Heart disease is the number one killer of African American women, claiming 42 percent of this population. Obesity is a problem for 53 percent of African American women. African American babies are twice as likely as White babies to die before

their first birthday: 14.7 deaths per 1,000 live birth vs. 6.1. African Americans are affected by infertility 1.5 times more often than Whites. High blood pressure is twice as common among African Americans as Whites. One-third of African American

have high blood pressure. Some studies estimate at least 75,000 African Americans die annually of manageable diseases.

To me the most dismal statistic, is that African Americans males have a life expectancy of only 66 years, White males and African American females reach 73, and White women live to 79.1 There are 1.3 million African American women or one in ten who are widows. Fifty-four percent of African American women

age 65 and older are widows. African American males are expected to die immediately after receiving their first social security check. They die 13 years before White women. There are 21 underdeveloped countries that have a longer life expectancy than African American males. There is a health crisis in the African American community that must be addressed.

How can a people who developed the laws of medicine

with Imhotep thousands of years ago be in such poor condition?

How can a people possess the world record in the 100 meters and the marathon, male and female, be in such poor condition?

How can a people who were brought to America for slavery because they had great energy, health, and physique be in such terrible condition?

Jawanza Kunjufu is an educational consultant with African-American Images. He is constantly on the lecture circuit with over 30 different workshops, addressing students, parents, teachers, churches, and community residents. He is also the author of Developing Strong Black Male Ministries, Hip Hop Street Curriculum: Keeping It Real, Black Students – Middle-Class Teachers, State of Emergency: We Must Save African American Males to name a few. Visit www.AfricanAmericanImages.com.>