Advocacy

In this section I shall demonstrate that my students can use individual assets to navigate and challenge systemic injustices, inequity of opportunities and increase pride in their cultural identity.

Among the ways I have endeavored to impel to my students to advocacy is by heightening their own health awareness, self-awareness and personal intellectual growth. African Americans experience worse health outcomes than any other racial or ethnic group in many measures of disease, premature death, and quality of life, including disability, violence, single-parent rearing, and prevalence of poverty. This disproportionate burden of disease, destitution, and premature mortality is often exacerbated by the experience of racism. Moreover, the risk of disease and premature death is modifiable in many cases through behavioral and lifestyle alterations. Such alterations necessitate knowledge of the basic etiology of certain common clinical conditions and the hereditary history of these ailments in one’s biological family. Developing a strong sense of self, acquiring actionable knowledge and applying it to one’s life can be psychologically and physiologically salubrious. With these ideas in mind, I formulated a special project that prompted certain of my students to identify and discuss their experiences with death, disease, the loss of family, their consciousness of race or racism and their perceived intellectual growth over time.

The burgeoning health awareness of my students inclined me to suggest the formation of a health and fitness club, which I offered to advise and direct. The action-related element of this endeavor describes how my students successfully brought this plan to fruition.

Click the links below to view the respective Conversation and Action components of this undertaking.