B. Health Care System
Where most Americans expect to die from natural causes or medical illnesses, African-American males expect to be a victim of a homicide or a violent crime. For example, the probability of an African-American male being murdered during his lifetime is approximately 42 per 1000, whereas the probability for white males is 6 per 1000. One study finds that an African-American male living in Harlem has a less likely chance to reach age 65 than a person who lives in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world.
One review of national health statistics reports that the mortality rates among African-American males are substantially higher than those for white males. The probability of an African-American male dying between the ages of 15 and 60 is 30.3%, whereas white males have a probability of 16%. There are further reports that African-American males disproportionately die from injuries such as drowning, pedestrian mishaps, and residential fires. These disparities are a direct result of black males having poor health due to a lack of adequate access to health care, health insurance, and social facts.
The American Cancer Society reports that black males have the highest rate of prostate cancer than any other group. Prostate cancer “is the second most fatal cancer among black men, after lung cancer.” AIDS has had a devastating impact on the lives of black males. Some reports find that black males have the highest rate of AIDS exposure than any other group, especially in the urban area.
Many of the health problems afflicting African-American males are the direct result of unhealthy eating habits, smoking, a lack of physical exercise, and heredity. Racism directed at African-American males and unemployment are also a major underlying causes of stress, hypertension, and suicide.
Hypertension has also affected the health of black males. Studies have suggested that this is a result of the rage that black males must suppress in order to gain acceptance from white Americans.
The suicide rate of white males still outnumbers that of African-American males. White males who commit suicide are typically retired and 65 years of age and older, while African-American males who commit suicide are typically between 25 to 34 years old and unable to continually face the everyday stresses of racism when trying to get a job, when buying a home, or even vacationing. The hospitalization of African-American males as patients in mental health facilities has increased substantially.
Poverty is probably the primary reason for the deteriorating health of African-American males. Some studies suggest that individuals living below the proverty level are more likely to develop health problems. African-Americans, particularly African-American males, are at the bottom of the research.
