Black men are actively engaged in their health and devote significant effort to maintaining their well-being, according to a landmark survey of Black Californians. The 2022 report, Listening to Black Californians, revealed that Black men in California highly value health care and often go to great lengths to access it. Despite the stereotype that Black men are disengaged from their health care, the data shows they are proactive in managing both their own health and that of their families.
This report challenges the prevailing notion that Black men are detached from their health providers. While Black men experience higher rates of chronic diseases compared to White men—a disparity often attributed to systemic racism and economic barriers—the idea that they are not active in their health care is inaccurate. According to the report, “Black men are more actively engaged in maintaining or improving the physical and mental health of themselves and their families than is generally recognized.”
