Well being within the Black neighborhood is extra necessary than ever — particularly after we undergo the best enhance in suicide and opioid overdose deaths within the final three to 5 years. We exist on the intersection of many main causes of demise and illness. Coronary heart circumstances, weight problems, hypertension, and quite a few different continual diseases influence our neighborhood every day.
As Phrase In Black’s well being information reporter, I really feel it’s necessary to write down tales with a lens on answer and empowerment. Because of this I’ve continued to focus my protection on tales that matter and on matters you gained’t discover anyplace else.
There’s a typical false impression about Black people that we don’t look after our well being. However, whereas reporting on this beat for the final two years, I might say fairly the other. I don’t know a neighborhood of people that advocate extra for themselves or keep extra on high of their well being care.
I wouldn’t be doing this work if I didn’t care in regards to the well being of our neighborhood. I’ve been honored to talk with many Black specialists, advocates, and neighborhood leaders within the well being area. Listening to your tales is on the core of why I’m a reporter.
As I mirror on this 12 months, I need to share a short roundup of a few of my favourite initiatives that I reported on, and what I might be engaged on in 2024.
Most Impactful Undertaking
Misplaced Innocence: The Adultification of Black Kids
I began this sequence final 12 months; it took about six months of reporting and a staff of individuals to deliver this undertaking to fruition. The interviews have been a number of the hardest I’ve finished in my profession up to now. However these are discussions that extra reporters have to have and take note of.
This in-depth reporting undertaking on adultification bias is without doubt one of the first multi-series articles I’ve seen on this subject.
It was eye-opening to listen to adults, teenagers, and youngsters share weak moments of their childhood — in essence, being compelled to forfeit their innocence. This expertise is all too widespread. But, not spoken about sufficient.
All through this undertaking, I wished to make a number of issues very clear. Black kids should be kids and to be handled as such. Forcing Black kids to be and act like adults solely strips them of their innocence. Adultification bias contributes to the hypersexualization of Black women, lifelong psychological well being points, and the criminalization of Black youth.
Certainly one of my favourite quotes from this sequence is a second-hand assertion one in all my sources acquired from a stranger. “I believe you want my dick in your life.”
I wrote it on the high of the article as a result of it’s jarring, uncomfortable, and unsettling — which is strictly how it’s best to really feel if you learn the whole lot of this sequence.
Most Wanted Undertaking
Truth or Fiction: Navigating Well being Misinformation
Well being misinformation and disinformation are oversaturated on the web and social media. But, I hadn’t seen a lot reporting on how well being misinformation impacts Black people’ entry to well being care companies and fact-based info.
Which is why I made a decision to deal with this from a Black perspective all through the summer season.
I couldn’t report on well being misinformation with out addressing how COVID-19 modified the panorama of well being info. To no shock, Black people have been intentionally focused with COVID-19 misinformation, which regularly resulted in demise.
My aim with the sequence wasn’t to steer individuals away from going surfing or to social media for info. It was fairly the other. Social media and on-line platforms could be a good way to entry info. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to know differentiate truth from fiction.
Within the six-part sequence, I took a deeper take a look at how Gen Z can study media literacy, why social media disinformation is harmful to our well being, and the place readers can go for fact-based well being info.
Upcoming Undertaking
In the previous couple of months, I’ve been engaged on a undertaking with STAT Information about how Black our bodies are affected within the age of Ozempic and weight reduction medicines. Thus far, I’ve spoken to women and men from California to New York, with various views about continual sickness, physique picture, and weight reduction medicines.
With out spoiling something, I imagine it will present an illustrative portrait of Black our bodies that’s not often proven in mainstream information. I hope you’ll keep tuned for this upcoming sequence and proceed to assist the work of our devoted staff at Phrase In Black.
If in case you have any story concepts, pitches, or suggestions, please be at liberty to electronic mail me at anissa.durham@localmedia.org.
