Blackface Research Articles

Societal factors impacting young Black men in South Africa

PurposeThis study employs the social ecology model to comprehensively explore the complex challenges young Black men face in South Africa and aims to highlight the importance of collaboration in addressing these multifaceted issues.Design/methodology/approachA multidisciplinary approach combines insights from sociology, education and the health literature with regard to government reports and academic data, and provides a holistic analysis of challenges faced by young Black men. Furthermore, it emphasises formal and informal learning, social and environmental influences and health disparities.FindingsYoung Black men in South Africa encounter complex challenges throughout their developmental journey, including limited family support, educational barriers, financial constraints, societal expectations and health disparities. Therefore, collaboration among stakeholders is essential for creating an equitable and inclusive environment that supports their development.Originality/valueThis research provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by young Black men in South Africa by emphasising the interconnectedness of informal education, economic empowerment and healthcare. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, cultural influences and international comparisons, informing evidence-based interventions for a more equitable society.

Black Families Who Choose Long-Term Breastfeeding.

Black families face disproportionate rates of poor health outcomes, including low rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Some Black mothers make the decision to breastfeed their child beyond infancy and report positive experiences. Understanding their backgrounds, motivations, and characteristics of their breastfeeding experiences may provide insight into what factors facilitate achievement of long-term breastfeeding for Black mothers. Surveys were deployed through a variety of methods including social media and emails to organizations that work with breastfeeding families. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey data and the open-ended question was analyzed using a word cloud program. Surveys were completed by 194 eligible mothers. Participants had a mean age of 31 years (range: 19-50). Mean breastfeeding duration of their currently breastfed and youngest child was 21 months (median: 19.5, range: 12-57). Primary reasons for breastfeeding beyond infancy included child wants to cuddle (28.9%) and child is tired (24.7%). Fifty-seven percent of participants reported that their child breastfed three to six times per day and 57.2% reported that their child woke up at least two times per night to feed. Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide anticipatory guidance, resources, and support to breastfeeding parents. Just over half of the mothers in this study had not planned to breastfeed beyond 12 months at the start of their lactation journey. Nurses who work with breastfeeding families could be instrumental in providing resources, support, and tangible assistance for families who may consider breastfeeding beyond 1 year.

Can't Catch a Break: Intersectional Inequalities at Work.

The labor market is the site of longstanding and persistent inequalities across race and gender groups in hiring, compensation, and advancement. In this paper, we draw on data from 13,574 hourly service-sector workers to extend the study of intersectional labor market inequalities to workers' experience on the job. In the service sector, where workers are regularly expected to be on their feet for long hours and to contend with workloads that are intense and unrelenting, regular break time is an essential component of job quality and general well-being. Yet, we find that Black women are less likely than their counterparts to get a break during their work shift. Although union membership and laws mandating work breaks are effective in increasing access to breaks for workers overall, they do not ameliorate the inequality Black women face in access to work breaks within the service sector. A sobering implication is that worker power and labor protections can raise the floor on working conditions but leave inequalities intact. Our findings also have implications for racial health inequalities, as the routine daily stress of service sector takes a disproportionate toll on the health of Black women.

Social Support Networks Among Black Caregivers of Persons With Memory Problems.

Positive social support can predict health outcomes in populations that experience significant burdens, such as minority caregivers. The purpose of the current study was to detail the social network (SN) of 36 Black family caregivers (FCGs) for persons with memory problems (PWMP) and examine differences in SN support depending on FCG gender and relationship to the care recipient. Participants were recruited from the Alzheimer's family program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the local community. FCGs were categorized into adult children (ACH), grandchildren and in-law children, and friends and other relatives. FCGs described the amount of adequate support they receive for different types of support from their SN. Female FCGs reported higher levels of support overall, with the largest effect sizes including social (d = 0.63), emotional (d = 0.64), and financial (d = 0.38) support. The largest effect size comparison of caregiver relationship type was in social support, with the ACH group reporting the lowest levels of adequate social support compared to the other two groups (d = 0.48). Findings suggest that different types of Black FCGs face unique challenges depending on their gender and familial relationship to the care recipient. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(1), 22-29.].

“Prove Yourself”: Exploring Epistemological Values in Mathematics Department Support and Oppression of Black Women Faculty

Black women faculty members face challenges in higher education, including limited identity-affirming mentorship and under-­recognition of their scholarship. However, little is known about their experiences in mathematics departments, where Black women are more severely underrepresented and disciplinary ideologies of neutrality mask social oppression. We interrogate the role of mathematics epistemological values (MEVs) in shaping departmental racialized–gendered oppression experienced by six Black women. Our findings illustrate that (a) quantification practices underpinning faculty evaluation disregard Black women’s achievements; and (b) notions of proving as a solitary endeavor justify neglecting Black women’s faculty development. We highlight departmental practices that support Black women faculty members, reframe MEVs to promote equity, and discuss implications for mathematics faculty and administrators working to advance equity.

Understanding and Improving Black Social Worker and Student Experiences in England

This article explores the experiences of Black newly qualified social workers and student social workers in England. Drawing on related studies that have begun to outline the challenges faced by Global Ethnic Majority social workers in the UK, the article highlights that this is both an important and under‐researched area. The article provides a much‐needed contribution to understanding the unique experiences of Black social workers through a thematic analysis of interviews with Black social workers, providing an opportunity for social work colleagues, managers, educators, and academics to understand the challenges and obstacles that these social workers face. The research reveals a dire situation in which Black social workers are hindered by racial stereotyping, discrimination, and invisibility. Black social worker voices also highlight suggestions for best practice and guidance for the social work sector about how to improve. By centering these underrepresented voices, this article provides an opportunity to acknowledge and begin to rectify the barriers and challenges that Black social workers face.

Prevalence and trends of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities among children and adolescents in the United States from 2019 to 2021.

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a comprehensive health survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in the U.S., providing valuable insights into the health status of the population. This study focuses on the NHIS child survey between 2019 and 2021, exploring developmental disabilities in U.S. children, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit disorder (ADHD/ADD), intellectual disability (ID), other developmental delay (other DD), and learning disability (LD). Leveraging NHIS data, our primary objective is to investigate the latest trends and disparities in the prevalence of developmental disabilities among various racial-ethnic groups. Employing a repeated cross-sectional design, we analyzed NHIS data from 2019 to 2021, focusing on children aged 3-17. The survey employed a meticulous stratified multi-stage sampling design. We utilized SAS version 9.4 for data analysis, calculating race-ethnicity-specific prevalence rates and employing weighted linear regression and the Rao-Scott chi-square test for trend analysis. Among 19,490 children, prevalence rates varied: ASD (3.11%), ADHD/ADD (9.50%), ID (1.85%), other DD (5.66%), and LD (7.49%). Non-Hispanic black children exhibited higher rates of ID and LD, while non-Hispanic white children had the highest ADHD/ADD prevalence. Disparities persisted across sociodemographic subgroups, with variations in prevalence rates. Our study reveals an increase in ASD prevalence and persistent disparities among racial-ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic black children face elevated risks of ID and LD, while non-Hispanic white children exhibit higher rates of ADHD/ADD.

Using mHealth to reduce disparities in Black maternal health: Perspectives from Black rural postpartum mothers.

Racial disparities are evident in maternal morbidity and mortality rates globally. Black women are more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth than any other race or ethnicity. This leaves one of the largest gaps in women's health to date. mHealth interventions that connect with women soon after discharge may assist in individualizing and formalizing support for mothers in the early postpartum period. To aid in developing an mHealth application, Black postpartum mothers' perspectives were examined. Utilizing the Sojourner Syndrome Framework and Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Measurement Framework, group interview discussion guides were developed to examine the facilitators and barriers of postpartum transitional care for rural Black women living in the United States to inform the development of a mobile health application. In this study, seven group interviews were held with Black mothers, their support persons, and healthcare providers in rural Georgia to aid in the development of the Prevent Maternal Mortality Using Mobile Technology (PM3) mobile health (mHealth) application. Group interviews included questions about (1) post-birth experiences; (2) specific needs (e.g. clinical, social support, social services, etc.) in the postpartum period; (3) perspectives on current hospital discharge processes and information; (4) lived experiences with racism, classism, and/or gender discrimination; and (5) desired features and characteristics for the mobile app development. Fourteen out of the 78 screened participants were eligible and completed the group interview. Major discussion themes included: accessibility to healthcare and resources due to rurality, issues surrounding race and perceived racism, mental and emotional well-being in the postpartum period, and perspectives on the PM3 mobile application. Participants emphasized the challenges that postpartum Black women face in relation to accessibility, racism and discrimination, and mental health. The women favored a culturally relevant mHealth tool and highlighted the need to tailor the application to address disparities.

Incarceration's lingering health effects on Black men: impacts persist into retirement

<abstract><sec> <title>Background</title> <p>The unique challenges Black men face within the criminal justice system underscore structural and systemic factors driving widespread inequalities. The long-term effects of these challenges on economic, health, and social outcomes as individuals transition to retirement remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical gap in our knowledge of life trajectories long after justice system involvement.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study investigated the enduring health impacts of incarceration on Black men, particularly focusing on the transition into retirement. It aimed to explore the influence of race and gender on experiences of incarceration before age 50, and how such experiences affected self-rated health during the retirement transition.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Methods</title> <p>Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study, which followed individuals aged 50–59 for up to thirty years, this research examined the interplay of race, gender, incarceration history, and self-rated health during the retirement transition. Logistic regression and path modeling were employed for data analysis.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Results</title> <p>Logistic regression results indicated that being Black, male, and having lower educational attainment significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing incarceration before the age of 50 (p < 0.05). This suggests that Black men with lower levels of education are at the greatest risk of incarceration. The path model revealed a correlation between incarceration experiences before age 50 and poorer self-rated health at the time of retirement.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The findings highlighted the disproportionately high risk of incarceration among Black men, especially those with lower educational attainment, and its persistent negative impacts on health decades later, including during the transition into retirement. Addressing structural racism and the mass incarceration of Black men is crucial for achieving racial health equity as individuals retire.</p> </sec></abstract>

Social Determinants of Health and Disparities in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases.

High blood pressure causes over 10 million preventable deaths annually globally. Populations in low- and middle-income countries suffer the most, experiencing increased uncontrolled blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths. Despite improvements in high-income countries, disparities persist, notably in the United States, where Black individuals face up to 4× higher CVD mortality than White individuals. Social determinants of health encompass complex, multidimensional factors linked to an individual's birthplace, upbringing, activities, residence, workplaces, socioeconomic and environmental structures, and significantly affect health outcomes, including hypertension and CVD. This review explored how social determinants of health drive disparities in hypertension and related CVD morbidity from a socioecological and life course perspective. We present evidence-based strategies, emphasizing interventions tailored to specific community needs and cross-sector collaboration to address health inequalities rooted in social factors, which are key elements toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 for reducing premature CVD mortality by 30% by 2030.

Adding a Coefficient for Race to the 4Kscore Improves Calibration for Black Men.

Black men face a higher incidence of high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) compared with non-Black men. While the 4Kscore is a widely utilized commercial test for PCa risk assessment, it does not currently account for racial differences. The aim of this study is to describe and validate a prespecified race coefficient for the 4Kscore with the goal of improving the accuracy of this test for Black men. Using data from 85 Black men from the initial US prospective validation study, a race coefficient of 0.6 on the log-odds scale was prespecified. We calculated discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the 4Kscore with and without this coefficient for Black race in our primary analysis cohort of 205 Black men undergoing biopsy for PCa in a Veterans Affairs (VA) institution. We performed a sensitivity analysis using a combined cohort from the US prospective validation and the VA studies. The mean probability of high-grade PCa from the 4Kscore in the primary cohort increased from 25% to 37% with race coefficient addition. Incorporating the race coefficient improved 4Kscore's calibration in Black men, with consequent improvements in clinical utility based on decision curve analysis. Model discrimination was maintained (AUC 0.825 vs 0.828, P = .14) in the combined cohort of Black and non-Black men from the US prospective and VA studies and the calibration remained largely unchanged. Incorporating a prespecified coefficient for Black race improved calibration and clinical utility of the 4Kscore among Black men and should be added to the 4Kscore.

Racial and ethnic inequities in stillbirth in the US: Looking upstream to close the gap: Seminars in Perinatology

Though stillbirth rates in the United States improved over the previous decades, inequities in stillbirth by race and ethnicity have persisted nearly unchanged since data collection began. Black and Indigenous pregnant people face a two-fold greater risk of experiencing the devastating consequences of stillbirth compared to their White counterparts. Because race is a social rather than biological construct, inequities in stillbirth rates are a downstream consequence of structural, institutional, and interpersonal racism which shape a landscape of differential access to opportunities for health. These downstream consequences can include differences in the prevalence of chronic health conditions as well as structural differences in the quality of health care or healthy neighborhood conditions, each of which likely plays a role in racial and ethnic inequities in stillbirth. Research and intervention approaches that utilize an equity lens may identify ways to close gaps in stillbirth incidence or in responding to the health and socioemotional consequences of stillbirth. A community-engaged approach that incorporates experiential wisdom will be necessary to create a full picture of the causes and consequences of inequity in stillbirth outcomes. Investigators working in tandem with community partners, utilizing a combination of qualitative, quantitative, and implementation science approaches, may more fully elucidate the underpinnings of racial and ethnic inequities in stillbirth outcomes.

Dangerous or in Danger?

Rebecca Hall’s 2021 adaptation of Nella Larsen's Passing, establishes themes of safety in a visual context, examining the Black bodily experience in both white and Black spaces. Hall's use of greyscale lighting, diegetic & non-diegetic sounds, and, most importantly, omission, spotlights what it means to be Black in white space. In the same way Larsen’s story rejects the possibility of ever being safe as a Black person, regardless of whether one can pass as white or not, Hall's cinematic methodology reveals the character of Clare as both dangerous and yet always in danger. Controlling what the viewer is allowed to see, Hall presents a newfound method of storytelling that confronts Black violence in a manner that rejects the glorification of Black trauma, while also presenting the dangers Black persons face from merely existing in their body.

Tired of Always Grinding: Black Womxn Faculty’s Experiences During COVID-19

The dueling pandemics of COVID-19 and racism brought to light the inequities Black womxn face in higher education in regard to service burdens. We argue Black womxn are overextended and suffering in their careers and lives as a result of this taxation. Methods. A sample of 191 faculty at a predominantly White university (PWI) in the Midwest United States responded to a survey about attitudes towards service obligations, sense of belonging, and community culture, centering on race, ethnicity, and gender as well as the impact of COVID on service obligations. Due to the limited number of Black womxn participants, their characteristics are only reported in the overall data based on their identity or race. Findings. Gender, race, and feeling a part of the community were found to be significant predictors of voluntarily taking on student-centered service related to identity and being asked to take on service related to identity. Black womxn faculty were approximately 78 times more likely than White male faculty to volunteer for identity-based service. Black womxn faculty were approximately 473 times more likely than White male faculty to be asked to participate in identity-based service. The COVID-19 pandemic and racism have had a significant impact on everyone's lives, but it has been especially difficult for BIPOC and Black women. They have faced emotional, spiritual, and physical challenges. Therefore, it is crucial for higher education institutions to create safe spaces where Black women can live their best and most productive lives.

Experiences of and support for black women in ecology, evolution, and marine science

Systemic racism and sexism are well documented in ecology, evolution, and marine science. To combat this, institutions are making concerted efforts to recruit more diverse people by focusing on the recruitment of Black people. However, despite these initiatives, white supremacy culture still prevails. The retention of Black people in ecology, evolution, and marine science has not increased in the ways that were hoped for. This is particularly true for Black women, who struggle to find a safe working environment that values their contributions and allows them to openly celebrate their own culture and identity. In this perspective article, we discuss the challenges that Black women face every day, and the needs of Black women to thrive in ecology, evolution, and marine science. We have written this directly to Black women and provide information on not only our challenges, but our stories. However, readers of all identities are welcome to listen and examine their role in perpetuating systemic racism and sexism. Lastly, we discuss support mechanisms for navigating ecology, evolution, and marine science spaces so that Black women can thrive.

Abstract B123: A descriptive study of substance use and cardiovascular issues among Nigerian men with prostate cancer

Abstract Introduction: Black males face a higher incidence of prostate cancer compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and metabolic syndrome, are more frequently observed in black men with prostate cancer, significantly impacting their quality of life, treatment outcomes, and related challenges. Socioeconomic disparities and stress also pose significant challenges for black men who engage in substance use, such as tobacco or alcohol. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of cardiovascular issues and substance abuse specifically among black males diagnosed with prostate cancer. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study examined associations between substance abuse, cardiovascular co-morbidities, and diagnoses of prostate cancer in men in Nigeria, Africa. It utilized data collected from the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) Familial Cohort Study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2018 which explores risk factors of prostate cancer among African Black men in Nigeria, Cameroon, and the United States (U.S.). Descriptive statistics generated association tables for variables captured. Results: From 708 participants who resided in Nigeria, 117 reported prostate cancer diagnoses compared to 580 who denied any cancer diagnoses. Median age of participants was 50, most were married (98.1%), Christian (65.8%), college educated (29.4%), with professional occupations (29.4%) and an average household income of 1,000,000 + Naira (24.2%). Marijuana use and alcohol consumption were identified to have statistically significant associations with prostate cancer diagnoses (p=0.003, p<0.001, respectively), while smoking (p=0.13), weight (p=0.22), and annual physicals (p=0.39) were not found to be significant predictors of prostate cancer diagnoses. Conclusion: Both marijuana and alcohol use were found to have significant associations with prostate cancer diagnoses in Nigerian men. Further research is directed to explore similar associations in Black men of other locations to confirm. This study provides a glimpse of associations of substance use and cardiovascular concerns in black males with prostate cancer. It is crucial for interventions to identify and understand the role of substance dependence and cardiovascular disorders in black males with prostate cancer to effectively address all risk factors, implementing lifestyle modifications, and providing culturally appropriate care, ultimately improving outcomes and reducing health disparities. Citation Format: Brittany M. Norris, Marvin Fullwood, Daniel Lee, Folakemi Odedina. A descriptive study of substance use and cardiovascular issues among Nigerian men with prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B123.

Making Black Girls Count in Math Education

The author shares an experience she had as a mathematics learner, which became the catalyst for her work as a mathematics education researcher. She discusses the issues that Black girls face in our math classrooms and offers potential solutions for partnering with Black girls.

Abstract B132: Vitamin D and breast cancer health disparities: A rapid scoping review investigating the relationship between vitamin D and breast cancer mortality in African American women stratified by molecular subtype

Abstract Introduction: Black women face disproportionate mortality rates from breast cancer because of being more likely to face aggressive breast cancer prognosis and metastasis. Past research findings showed that low vitamin d serum levels are a risk factor for certain types of breast cancer (TNBC, HR+ etc.). Vitamin D deficiency is particularly prevalent amongst black individuals and black women are more likely to experience metastasis and aggressive breast cancer prognosis. However, there is a lack of research on black women that investigates the relationship between vitamin d serum levels and mortality, stratified by prognosis category. Specific Aim and Hypothesis: This rapid scoping review is developed to describe the nature, number, and scope of published research articles measuring the association between vitamin D and mortality in black breast cancer patients based on the molecular subtype. a) Is there a gap in literature to determine if vitamin D has an impact on mortality in black women with breast cancer? If there is an impact, does it vary based on molecular subtype in black women? Methods: A rapid scoping review will be conducted. Studies that do not provide the following data on African American women with breast cancer will be excluded: breast cancer molecular subtype, mortality status, and vitamin d serum levels pre and post diagnosis. Articles will be reviewed if they were published after 2013 to maintain scientific relevance and must be in the English language. The databases used to conduct the search will be PubMed, Cochran, CINAHL, JBI, web of science, TRIP, and science direct. Studies will be analyzed together based on the type of study (ex. Case-control vs cohort) and when the vitamin D measurements were taken (ex. Pre-diagnosis vs post-diagnosis). Public Health Implication Identifying potential factors such as lack of vitamin D that contribute to high cancer morbidity and mortality in black women with breast cancer will allow different mechanisms for reducing this cancer disparity. Citation Format: Adrienne Vaughn. Vitamin D and breast cancer health disparities: A rapid scoping review investigating the relationship between vitamin D and breast cancer mortality in African American women stratified by molecular subtype [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B132.

‘Two Souls, Two Thoughts, and Two Unreconciled Strivings in One Body’

American sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois introduces the phrase double consciousness in his work. According to Du Bois, this phrase describes a dilemma of two consciousnesses that Black Americans face due to what he calls ‘the veil of racism’. While the consciousness that Du Bois speaks of is in the context of Black Americans, this work attempts to answer whether colonisation and racism in South Africa did not also lead to a form of double consciousness to those who experienced it. This work does this by firstly exploring the institutionalised form of colonisation in South Africa known as apartheid. It shows how this system characterisedand made Black people seem as though they were lazy, stupid, and inferior, which in turn led to the second consciousness. This work further shows the experience of double consciousness by Black South Africans through hair and beauty politics. It shows that Black South Africans retaliate and assert their blackness through protest despite the double consciousness. Furthermore, this work usesSouth African literature to demonstrate how Black people in South Africa are knowledgeable of the consciousness, its effects, and how it operates.

Demographics and risk of isolation due to sea level rise in the United States

Within coastal communities, sea level rise (SLR) will result in widespread intermittent flooding and long-term inundation. Inundation effects will be evident, but isolation that arises from the loss of accessibility to critical services due to inundation of transportation networks may be less obvious. We examine who is most at risk of isolation due to SLR, which can inform community adaptation plans and help ensure that existing social vulnerabilities are not exacerbated. Combining socio-demographic data with an isolation metric, we identify social and economic disparities in risk of isolation under different SLR scenarios (1-10 ft) for the coastal U.S. We show that Black and Hispanic populations face a disproportionate risk of isolation at intermediate levels of SLR (4 ft and greater). Further, census tracts with higher rates of renters and older adults consistently face higher risk of isolation. These insights point to significant inequity in the burdens associated with SLR.