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Black Health and Wellness

While the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted health disparities in the Black community in recent years, racial inequalities in health and wellness have been an ongoing issue for centuries. Delve into stories that address these injustices and discover the work being done to reclaim power and create spaces of resiliency, healing and vitality.

Olympia Auset of SÜPRMARKT| Still from "Broken Bread"
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A black and white historical photo shoes white commercial/industrial buildings in the foreground with houses in the background consumed by plumes of black smoke erupting out of oil wells, with a number of derricks appearing in black against a smoky sky.
Even as fossil fuel extraction declined in the state, low-income, Black and Latino residents continued to face disproportionate risks from living near oil wells, and Black residents were exposed to the most intensive operations.
A nighttime scene of a protester raising their right arm as they cry out, holding a spray-painted sign that reads "LOVE TO TYRE" in black lettering
As the video goes public of Black police officers in Memphis beating Tyre Nichols to death, it is a stark reminder of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. The health effects of these killings ripple from the individual victim to their families, local communities and Black Americans far from the site of the killing, who may have never met the victim.
A Black woman with curly hair sits at a table in front of a laptop, with her face illuminated by the lit screen
Personal economics — a.k.a. wealth, or lack thereof — is one of the social conditions that can strongly determine health, especially among women of color. Here's how closing the gap of financial knowledge could help reduce stress and improve health conditions.
Three African American men on horseback
Coming from Houston's inner city, Lloyd Prince now leads a farm-to-table beef brand and is continuing the rich history of Black cattle ranchers.
Chili biscuits dish from Lucille's
Soul food is often typified by limited examples. Images of greasy, deep-fried chicken, buttery dishes and fatty pork are often solely associated with the cuisine. Yet, historians, chefs and authors know these dishes are a snippet of a vast and diverse cuisine that reflects different regions, religious groups and communities.
Simply Wholesome is the ‘Gateway to Wakanda’
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Roy Choi gets a tour of Simply Wholesome, a Black-owned community institution in Crenshaw.
Black Lives Matter co-founder Melina Abdullah speaks at a protest in Century City.
South Los Angeles confronted COVID-19 against backdrop of discriminatory policies which exacerbated the pandemic's effects. To achieve equitable COVID-19 recovery in the area, South L.A. needs ongoing investment in resilient community networks and initiatives.
Young African American men and women gather near the table of a representative from California Federal Savings and Loan during a luncheon. The event was sponsored by the Black Business Association (BBA) at Dooto's Music Center.
In the 1960s and 70s, young, Black middle-class families flocked to Compton for the opportunity to live in a progressive, Black space created by Black businesses and civic and political engagement.
Houston: African American Foodways
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Chefs Chris Williams and Jonny Rhodes uplift African American foodways in Houston, Texas.
Owning the Block
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Roy meets Leimert Park residents using food to counteract gentrification.
Protesters march holding placards and a portrait of George Floyd during a demonstration against racism and police brutality, in Hollywood, California.
Black Lives Matter co-founder Melina Abdullah shares how the past can inform efforts to reshape public safety.
Two students volunteering at a booth speak to two individuals looking at pamphlets that read "Schools Not Prisons."
During the pandemic, Black and Latino youth noticed an increase in mental health issues among their peers. Members of the ACLU's SoCal youth branch took action, advocating for holistic mental health solutions in schools.
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