The Literati: A Crisis in the Mental Health of Black America
By W. Eric Croomes
Suicide has always been a hush-hush topic in the African-American
community; nothing silences a conversation more suddenly than talk
of someone who has taken their own life, whether a family member or
friend. With the publication of Lay My Burden Down,
Suicide and the Mental Health Crisis among African-Americans
in 2000, the veil of secrecy and inherited shame was lifted and
the subject was put out in the public arena. Its authors,
Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint and Amy Alexander, offer a
convincing, cogent and relentlessly grievous account as to the
myriad reasons so many African-Americans suffer from depression and
other mental health issues and how those reasons lay the groundwork
for the ultimate act of self-aggression: suicide. In
particular, and certainly disturbing, is the suicidal trend of black
males in America, which tripled between the 1980’s and the end of
the twentieth-century, according to the authors. The common
element of this trend is the loss of hope, a virtue that
historically underpinned the ability of blacks to overcome the
legacy of discrimination, segregation and unequal justice.
Says Poussaint and Alexander: “…the realities of modern life have
begun to undermine the historic adoptions, the coping strategies
that are part of the African-American culture.” Lay
My Burden Down requires the immediate and consistent
attention from anybody who senses the urgency of self-destructive
behaviors in a family member or friend and is a must-read for policy
chieftains, church leaders and grass-roots organizations.
W. Eric Croomes is a writer based in Irving, Texas and a native of
Phoenix, Arizona. Eric is a 1990 graduate of Jarvis Christian
College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Sociology and
has studied theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
You can learn more about him at his web site and blog listed below:
www.wericcroomes.com
www.thevillagereport.blogspot.com
One Man's Journey: Bobby Smith Proves That One Man Can Make A
Difference
Bobby Smith
is Executive Vice President of
“Susie’s Cause,”
a grass roots organization dedicated to finding a cure for colon
cancer. Black Men In America.com's Gary Johnson caught
up with Bobby for this exclusive interview.
BMIA.com:
What prompted you to get involved with the Colon Cancer foundation?
Bobby Smith:
I grew up with Susan and was very close to her older sister and her
family and I have a great amount of respect for David, her father,
the Foundation President. When I researched and learned that
the disease was the second leading cancer killer of men and women
and yet 90% preventable, I knew I had to make it happen.
BMIA.com:
What were you doing before you got involved with Susie’s Cause?
Bobby Smith:
For the last 10 years I have been President of an international
marketing company and doing consulting.
BMIA.com:
Can you give us a few facts about black men and colon cancer?
Bobby Smith:
There is a particularly high incidence of Colorectal Cancer in the
Black community. In fact, mortality rates for African Americans are
the highest out of any racial or ethnic group with Colorectal
Cancer – NCI’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review and NCHS public use
data file for the Total U.S.).
BMIA.com:
Tell us about Susie’s Cause?
Bobby Smith:
Grass roots focused on stopping this disease 90% preventable and
helping the patients and families battling it.
BMIA.com:
Who were some of the people who inspired you?
Bobby Smith:
Susan/Mike Milken Many of the patients and family members I speak
with each day.
BMIA.com:
I believe that one person can make a difference in the lives of
others. Do you feel that you are making a difference?
Bobby Smith:
Absolutely! Every day across all lines of race and gender we
are educating people on screening and early detection. Through
our media and various partnerships, like this one, we are reaching
millions of people every month. Through our website, #1 in the
world in our industry we are providing valuable information,
guidance and support for those in need.
BMIA.com:
Have you noticed a difference in how the black community reacts when
it comes to getting folks out to the doctor to get consistent
medical treatment?
Bobby Smith:
Yes, my personal experience from my black coleagues is that that
black women pride themselves on their strength and might not seek
treatment immediately and that black men are less inclined to want
to visit their primary care physician much less a GI doctor or
colorectal surgeon for a colonoscopy.
BMIA.com:
You’re a very passionate white guy who is very active in educating
the black community about the risks of colon cancer. Has the
fact that you are white and male been an obstacle in connecting with
people?
Bobby Smith:
Absolutely not. The black leaders, like you, that I have
spoken with have not only embraced the message, but more important
acted upon it immediately. Perhaps they even appreciate the
very fact that we would be so focused on the black population. And I
got a lot of soul!
BMIA.com:
What’s the biggest challenge that you face in educating people about
colon cancer?
Bobby Smith:
The myths:
That it is a man's disease. It is
an equal killer of men and women.
The prep for the colonoscopy. It is
one evening of cleaning out your system. We've all had the
flu. If they cannot afford the colonoscopy there are other very
advanced tests to detect colon cancer and even genetic testing
available.
The test itself. It's 20 minutes. No
pain. You will wake up typically asking when it will begin.
Most common symptoms. No symptoms
at all!
It can strike down younger people 10% of
the time.
·
Weight loss
·
Fatigue
·
Rectal bleeding
·
Diarreah
·
Difficulty going to the
bathroom
·
Stomach cramping
BMIA.com:
How do you measure success?
Bobby Smith:
One person at a time. How do you measure a life. Or the
pain, the loss of love and guidance to children and grandchildren
that 90% of the time should not have happened. There are
enough bad things out there that cannot be prevented.
BMIA.com:
It seems that you work around the clock for the foundation.
What have you learned since being involved with the Susie’s Cause?
Bobby Smith:
That great work truly can be blessed.
BMIA.com:
What’s the biggest health issue concerning black men today?
Bobby Smith:
I believe in some aspects the same issues that face all men today.
Diet - too many traps and bad patterns. Exercise
- There is no substitute. Pace - not taking the time to
chill and appreciate the good moments in each day.
There are some myths out there. My
brilliant primary care physician told me many years ago that a great
deal of exposure to disease is the fat around the waistline.
Many men fool themselves that because they can still run up and down
a court or do whatever they do that they are cool. That because they
have no fat on their legs or arms it's OK. Or the best one,
that their gut is solid as a rock.
BMIA.com:
How can family members help men get tested?
Bobby Smith:
Whatever it takes. There are ways to get to a man do what you
want- ladies! And children, guilt works!
BMIA.com:
What advice do you have for people to maintain good health?
Bobby Smith:
We lose the weight, exercise, chill out a bit and we do away with
most of the most common diseases. Not only that but when we
feel better, our clothes fit better. We are more proud and
confident in ourselves. We sleep better; therefore, we have more
energy. Our work improves, we become better spouses, lovers,
parents, and even friends. We even set an example for our
children, co-workers, and members of our church and community.
The greatest joy might even be the sense of accomplishment; because
if you can do this, you can do anything. The price is so small
and the rewards are so great, and the journey is exhilarating.
Colorectal Cancer
Within The African American Community
“The heart is the only major organ
that cancer can not attack”—Susan Cohan Kasdas
“Where No One Has Gone Before”
Susie’s Cause
Works to Understand and Battle The Greater Incidence Of Colorectal
Cancer Within The African American Community
“Susie’s Cause”
Executive Vice President, Bobby Smith, is honored to begin a
long-term partnership with Black Men In America.com. “When I
met with Gary Johnson, Founder and Publisher of the company I knew
that we had an incredible opportunity to partner in the Foundation's
on-going works against Colorectal Cancer.”
There is a particularly high incidence of
Colorectal Cancer in the Black community. In fact, mortality rates
for African Americans are the highest out of any racial or ethnic
group (out of 100,000 African American Men approximately 34.3% on
average are diagnosed per year, out of 100,000 African American
Women approximately 24.5% on average are diagnosed per year with
Colorectal Cancer – NCI’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review and NCHS
public use data file for the Total U.S.). It is important,
therefore, for the Foundation to connect with professional
associations or organizations that could make an impact through
education; thereby preventing the occurrence of this disease.
“Black Men In America.com is
exactly the type of group that can make a difference,” says Mr.
Smith. “I thank Mr. Johnson for making it possible for me to speak
about the Foundation’s work.”
Susie’s Cause also looks
forward to forging a growing partnership with Gary and his
organization to expand its educational programs for this demographic
since the need is so great. “We need to teach about early
screening, lifestyle and dietary changes, and try to provide
assistance where there may be a financial and emotional need.”
Learn About Susie’s Cause
Susie’s Story:
A short time ago, Susan Cohan Kasdas
succumbed to a two-year battle with Colon Cancer. Susan was
forty-two years old and left behind two beautiful children, a loving
family and countless adoring friends. She dreamed of starting a
foundation to educate adults of all ages about the dangers of Colon
Cancer. She did not want any other families to experience the pain
that hers had endured.
Susan did not live long enough to fulfill
her dream, but in recognition of her courage, dignity, and her
strong vision, the Susan Cohan
Kasdas Foundation, Inc. (Susie’s Cause)
was born and began development of its
outreach programs in November 2004.
The Colon Cancer Reality:
Last year alone, over 56,000 people died
of Colorectal Cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer
related deaths of men and women in our society. The numbers
are devastatingly sad and are partially due to the lack of comfort
about discussing the disease and target organ, the large bowel.
The encouraging truth is that this disease is over 90% curable when
detected and treated early.
Susie’s Cause
At Work:
Susie’s Cause
is a national grass roots organization headquartered in Baltimore
that is rapidly expanding and establishing itself as the voice of
Colon Cancer nationally and internationally. The
Foundation is striving to eliminate Colon Cancer as a life
threatening disease through the development and the dissemination of
educational programs focused on prevention, early screening and
detection, and aggressive therapeutic intervention. “This has been a
rewarding journey for our Foundation and we are already making a
difference in the lives of many”, says Smith.
Our Programs:
In 2005,
Susie’s Cause
launched two programs. “SAVE OUR
PARENTS”, educates and stimulates high school and college students
to promote early cancer screening amongst their adult families:
“This interactive educational program is
a mini medical school specifically designed for high school
students,” says David E. Stein, MD, the Foundation’s Director of
Education. “The focus of the program is to provide students a
thorough understanding of all aspects of Colorectal Cancer and
empower them to educate their parents on the benefits of Colorectal
Cancer screening.”
First, the Foundation educates the
teachers through a “Teach the Teachers Program”. They provide
the teachers with literature about Colon Cancer; depending on the
scenario they may also provide a small lecture. Then the teachers of
the classes participating, typically Senior High and College
Students, perform a preliminary lesson on Colon Cancer and the
importance of screening with their students.
The program is very hands-on. The
students that are selected to participate in Save our Parents
are provided with a talk on Colon Cancer and screening from a local
Gastroenterologist or Colorectal Surgeon. The students then have the
opportunity to utilize state-of-the-art equipment and perform
cutting edge procedures in the classroom through our ongoing
partnership with Olympus. “It’s pretty amazing, the kids
actually perform colonoscopies on fabricated colons, using the same
equipment I use at the hospital,” said Dr. Michael Page of the Iowa
Clinic during the launch of the program in Des Moines, Iowa this
fall.
“Our hope is that as the kids learn
about the procedure and its importance it will de-stigmatize the
concept of colonoscopy and Colorectal Cancer screening”, says Smith.
Every student is given take-home literature to discuss with their
parents and a questionnaire to bring back to the school so the
Foundation can quantify whom they are reaching and the impact of the
program overall. “The result, we hope, is that each child will make
an emotional contract with their Moms and Dads, Aunts and Uncles,
Grandparents, other family members and friends to go and have a
screening/colonoscopy,” says Smith.
Most inspiring is making a difference not
only in the suburban areas, but in the inner cities themselves e.g.
Baltimore, South Florida, Philadelphia, Columbia, and Puerto Rico,
much of which have a higher population of African Americans or mixed
ethnic groups. Those are the families in need of being educated, so
they can get screened early and prevent the disease. The Foundation
is making a difference in these communities, and has been asked to
return to many of the schools.
Our “SHARING, CARING and SURVIVING
SYMPOSIUM”, provides an on-going support system for patients and
families that are battling Colon Cancer. The “SYMPOSIUM” will be
brought city to city providing education and comfort via teams of
leading medical professionals, institutions and therapists.
There is much excitement about reaching
the masses through the Foundation’s media sponsor COMCAST who has
partnered with them nationally and on local levels to support and to
introduce their visionary and life altering programs.
Susie’s Cause
and its programs have been featured via TV spots on CNN Headline
News, and have attracted local media attention in many markets as
well.
Future Endeavors:
“Susie’s Cause has accomplished so very
much in their first year, reaching many through their programs,
media coverage, and industry leading web site. They have built
an impressive Board of Directors. In their commitment to
battle the occurrence of Colon Cancer in 2006, they will be
expanding their existing programs even further, while creating new
venues to reach the masses.” We are excited to be a vital part
of that expansion says Mr. Johnson.
Our projects will include:
v
“Companies That Care About Colon
Cancer” will provide cost effective solutions for employees to
undergo early screening.
v
Create a Primary Care Physician
Colorectal Cancer Workshop – In depth education will be provided to
the Primary Care Physician on the importance of early screening as
prevention.
v
Grow the “Save Our Parents”
Program with the assistance of professionals/organizations like
yourselves, who will help them reach out to schools and colleges all
over the country and assist them in making contacts.
v
Expand the “Save Our Parents”
program with an element that focus’s on using the Internet e.g.
E-mail Campaigns, Instant Messaging to reach more family and
friends; perhaps create incentives for doing this.
v
Build a contact base of
Volunteers, Professionals etc to launch
Susie’s Cause
chapters nationwide.
v
Nominate Doctors, medical offices,
surgical centers, and hospitals to participate on our board, provide
opportunities for research, and support our programs.
v
Expand our “Sharing Caring, and
Surviving Colon Cancer Symposium” to provide a support network
nationally and eventually internationally.
A very important goal, says Smith, “Is to
be opportunistic and align ourselves with strong leaders like Mr.
Johnson, those who care about this cause or have been touched by it,
that will help us in our journey to battle the disease. This goes
beyond the professionals in the field, it reaches into the community
and to our children; we must educate to eliminate Colorectal
Cancer.”
In order to reach the next level and
continue to bring this program into neighborhoods across the Country
we need your help. Please visit our website for donations to
ensure that we reach our goals. For more information about
bringing our programs to your company or your city please email me
at
bobby@coloncancerfoundation.org.
We are always in search of committed individuals of varied
backgrounds and expertise to assist us in our Foundation’s works,
programs, and chapters.
Please visit our web site at:
www.coloncancerfoundation.org.
We would like to extend a special thank
you to Bobby Smith, Executive Vice President, of
Susie's Cause.
Susie’s Cause
is a national grass-roots organization
headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, that is rapidly expanding and
establishing itself as the voice of Colon Cancer nationally and
internationally. The Foundation is striving to
eliminate Colon Cancer as a life threatening disease through the
development and the dissemination of educational programs focused on
prevention, early screening and detection, and aggressive
therapeutic intervention.
An Interview with Dr. Marilyn Hughes
Gaston and Dr. Gayle K. Porter authors of the book
Prime Time: The African American
Woman’s Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness
This is the first time that this web site
has featured a book that has garnered such widespread praise and
acclaim as Prime Time:
The African American Woman’s Complete Guide to Midlife Health and
Wellness. Drs. Marilyn
Hughes Gaston, M.D and Dr. Gayle K. Porter, Psy.D., have written one
of the most comprehensive books on black women’s health. This
book is well written, well researched and flat out inspiring.
When it comes to finding a literature about the health and wellness
of black women, this is “One Book” on black women’s health issues.
The resources and charts throughout the
500 plus pages are invaluable. The key to this book is that it
is “user friendly,” and addresses the physical, emotional and
spiritual needs of women. I believe the utility of this book
will save lives.
As a man, I found the book very
informative and gave it to my wife to read. She read it and
purchased additional copies of the book and gave them to her friends
as a gift. They read the book and gave it to their friends as
a gift. Folks, this is a great book. I’m telling you, I
am more knowledgeable and hopefully more sensitive about women’s
health issues as a result of reading this book.
Dr. Maryiln H. Gaston
is a former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States who is
internationally recognized for her work in combating sickle cell
disease. As a primary care pediatrician with a subspecialty in
ambulatory pediatrics, she has devoted her career to serving the
underserved.
Dr. Gayle K. Porter
is a licensed clinical psychologist. She is currently a
Principal Research Analyst and a Senior Mental Health Advisor for
the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) of The American
Institutes for Research. Dr. Porter has served on the
faculties of Johns Hopkins’ Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Department and Howard University .
Both doctors have a lifelong commitment to
black women’s health and wellness and happily agreed to be
interviewed for this web site. We hope that after reading this
interview you will be inspired to purchase their book and read it.
You should then share what you’ve learned with the important people
in your life.
For more on these two fabulous ladies and
their work, read our interview with them below:
Interview with Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston
and Dr. Gayle K. Porter authors of the book
Prime Time: The African American
Woman’s Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness
BMIA.com:
How did you two meet and what motivated you to write a book like
this?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
We have been friends for 25 years and met
initially around our shared interest in sickle cell disease.
We were motivated to write the book because of our mutual interest
and concern about the physical and emotional health of African
American women. We both have been outraged with the disparities we
have watched over the years (Dr. Gaston as a physician and Dr.
Porter as a clinical psychologist) and decided to write the book to
assist women make important lifestyle changes to save their own
lives. We knew that we needed a revolution to change
the status of our health.
BMIA.com:
How long did it take you to write the book?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
It took us 4 years to research, hold focus
groups, conduct surveys, and write the book.
BMIA.com:
Who were some of the people who inspired you?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
The people who inspired us were first and
foremost the women in our personal lives, our mothers, and extended
family members, friends and then the women with whom we came in
contact over the years as we lectured and held workshops -
especially the women we interviewed in the focus groups before we
wrote the book.
BMIA.com:
How much of your personal life is reflected in your work?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
A great deal of our personal life is
reflected in our work. Our personal health stories are
included throughout the book and also our personalities are
reflected in it - our spirituality, our humor, our love for people
(see the women's stories) and our belief that we can change these
statistics and eliminate the disparities.
BMIA.com:
How does it feel to see your book getting such great reviews?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
It feels great to receive the reviews -
especially the recent ESSENCE recognition. However, we feel even
better when the women themselves tell us how the book has changed
their lives. e.g. "This book has given me an epiphany", "This
book is my Bible", "I have two books on my nightstand - The Bible
and Prime Time." We feel very privileged and blessed by God to
have the opportunity to make such a difference in the lives of our
sisters.
BMIA.com:
Did you make a conscious decision to give the book a “spiritual
flavor” or is that just my interpretation?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
We made a conscious decision to have a
"spiritual flavor" because we know that wellness and wholeness
exists when physical health, emotional health and spiritual health
are integrated. Please visit our website:
primetimesister.com to see our logo which speaks to this fact.
The data are accumulating which document that spiritual wellness is
a very important part of our over-all health. The importance
of prayer and its impact on our health should be unquestioned at
this point. The data show that living a spiritual life
decreases deaths by at least 30% and maybe the percentage is
greater.
We hope all readers understand the importance of
spiritual health from the book and begin to focus on this aspect of
their lives.
BMIA.com:
Why did you focus a lot of attention on the mental health
perspective, especially the spiritual side?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
We focused on the mental health
perspective for the following and above reasons. The mind-body
connection is too powerful to be ignored. Stress, Depression,
Anxiety all can cause and are caused by clear physical and chronic
diseases - heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, stroke,
and on and on.
BMIA.com:
Does the title of the book, “Prime Time” have any special meaning or
significance?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
The title Prime Time definitely has
significance. The book is specifically targeted at women in
mid-life - the years 40-70. These years are when we are all in
our "prime." This time of life is not to be viewed and lived
negatively and feared because we are aging. It is indeed our
"prime time" a time of growth, change, transformation, a time to
make mid-course corrections. It's truly the best time of
our lives to be appreciated, thankful, and treasured and seen as
wondrous. We wrote a book for these years to help women make
important changes and transform their health and wellness.
However, younger women are telling us they
need the book to get ready for "prime time", and older women are
using it because as the Delaney sisters taught us - it is never too
late. In addition, men are buying the book in great numbers
for themselves.
BMIA.com:
Was it difficult to write this book?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
It was difficult to write the book because
both of us were employed with very demanding jobs (Marilyn as
Assistant Surgeon General in the US Public Health Service and Gayle
as Director of a major community based program at Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine and counselor at Howard University ).
However, we were able to successfully complete the book because of
our passion for the topic and we know we are on a mission from God
to get this word out.
BMIA.com:
What do you want people to “take away” after reading your book?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
We want the "takeaway message" from the
book to be the fact that our health is in crisis now and urgently
needs our immediate attention and action. Women must stop
putting the needs of everyone else before their own and begin to
prioritize first taking care of themselves. The good news of
the book is that through our own actions as outlined we can decrease
the outrageous disparities in our health and improve our individual
and collective health and wellness as African Americans.
BMIA.com:
Who are your favorite authors?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
Our favorite authors are Zora Neale
Hurston bell hooks, Toni Morrison, Iyanla Vanzant,
Shakespeare, Renita Weems.
BMIA.com:
How did you get your current book deal?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
We received our current book deal through
a wonderful agent (Victoria
Sanders in NY) of whom we were informed by Faye Williams owner
of the bookstore, Sisterspace, in Washington, DC the only bookstore
dedicated solely to African American women. An African
American female editor at Random House Publishing loved our proposal
and the mission and understood when we stated we wanted to create a
"revolution" around our health.
BMIA.com:
What has been your most significant life lesson to date?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
Our most significant life lesson to date
is that if we are to truly honor the God within us we must implement
daily programs of thoughts and behaviors that help us develop our
physical, emotional and spiritual lives.
BMIA.com:
What would “pearls of wisdom” would you share with new writers?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
Our "pearls of wisdom" for new writers are
to be clear about why and what you are choosing to write and
passionate about the purpose. Be disciplined and stay focused.
Build in breaks to renew and rejuvenate and then get back on task.
BMIA.com:
What is the biggest health issue concerning black women and black
men today?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
The biggest health issue concerning black
women is the fact that we are dying at rates that are greater than
any other group of women in the Nation and our rates of stress and
depression, and anxiety are also greater than other women. And
the combination is compromising our ability to lead lives that are
truly healthy and fulfilling. The reasons for these
disparities in our health outcomes are multi-factorial: our
lifestyle i.e. our lack of attention to living lives of disease
prevention and health promotion, our lack of access to quality
health care, our levels of poverty, the problems in the health care
system itself - the racism, sexism, inadequate African American
health care providers, inadequate cultural competence to mention
some of the contributors.
BMIA.com:
Are there aspects of the book that men should take note of,
especially if their wives or girlfriends are approaching or going
through menopause?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
Men should first and foremost read the
book to incorporate the knowledge and advice contained therein for
themselves. The risk factors for heart disease, stroke, cancer,
diabetes, stress are the same for men and the strategies to reduce
the risks are the same. So, men should incorporate the same
behaviors for change as women.
In addition, men can also learn
about the women in their lives from the book especially to help
women take better care of themselves.
BMIA.com:
What advice do you have for people to maintain good health?
Drs. Gaston and Porter:
The advice for everyone to maintain good
health is to make good health their number one priority on a daily
basis - every day, every hour. It takes focus and attention
and commitment. We must develop daily habits of good health -
and practice them from the moment we wake up to the time we go to
bed. Habits that focus us on stress management
throughout the day, sound nutrition, exercise routines to
strengthen our heart, muscles, bones every day, and spiritual time
throughout the day. Habits to reduce our specific risks for
disease and continually strive to move along the continuum toward
better health and wellness.
It is also our responsibility to teach our
future generations how to take care of themselves and how to live
daily lives of prevention, health and wellness so our families and
communities will become healthier and happier.
Click on the link below the book cover to
buy the book.
Special thanks to Tammy Richards of Richard’s Public Relations for
arranging this interview.
