In goes without saying that women in the lives of black men serve as a critical source of encouragement. Many of the men in Griffith’s study noted that they had far less control over what they ate when they were at home—when, in other words, their wives, girlfriends, daughters and mothers cooked meals for them. Indeed, my most dramatic weight loss (I’m nearly 100 pounds lighter than I was when my oldest daughter was born) occurred when my wife of 22 years took over the cooking. As black women face their own health challenges—including often paying more attention to the health of their children, aging parents and partners at the expense of their own health—it is incumbent upon black men to take more responsibility for maintaining their health.

 

We’ve all heard the adage that it takes a village to raise children. But in this instance, it also takes a village to address the health crisis among black men.

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