The Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, says the fight against plastics and petrochemical pollution has become a modern civil rights issue for Black communities, particularly those living near industrial corridors like Cancer Alley. Featured in the “The Plastic Detox,” Yearwood encourages Americans to reduce plastic use at home while advocating for stronger environmental protections and community activism.
Author Archives: Jennifer Porter Gore
Posted inWord In Black
Black teens face a hidden crisis of dating violence
Mental health experts say controlling behaviors among teens are often mistaken for signs of love and protection, masking deeper patterns of abuse.
Posted inWord In Black
Overdoses and violence now top causes of maternal deaths
Black women in the US face higher rates of pregnancy-related complications and maternal mortality. Mental health, systemic barriers, and access to care play a significant role.
Posted inWord In Black
Arrival of summer brings attention to drowning prevention
As summer swimming season begins, public health experts warn that Black children continue to face disproportionately high drowning rates, while proposed federal cuts threaten programs that track and prevent water-related deaths. Advocates say eliminating funding for the CDC’s drowning prevention efforts could weaken national safety strategies and worsen longstanding racial disparities rooted in segregation, unequal access to swim education and limited recreational resources.
Posted inHBCU
HBCU attendance may be linked to Black alumni brain health
Studies show that students who graduate from historically Black colleges and universities outperform peers in cognitive tests, with benefits persisting across generations educated before and after desegregation.
Posted inWord In Black
‘Ghost’ Medicaid doctors leave patients in the waiting room
By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black Roughly 1 in 3 doctors who are enrolled to treat Medicaid patients didn’t treat a single one between 2019 and 2021, according to new research. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a third of enrolled health care providers saw more than 150 Medicaid patients each year, a workload […]
Posted inHealth
Top synthetic hair brands used for braiding found to contain carcinogens
A Consumer Reports study has found that popular synthetic hair used in Black women’s braided hairstyles contains harmful chemicals, including lead and carcinogens. The findings raise health concerns for the millions who rely on these products for beauty and convenience.
