African-American-Health Books

Hine tells an uncomfortable story of an era of pervasive racism and sexism. It deals with the intersection of race and gender expectations in the nursing profession of the US, up till 1950. In many countries, nursing was a predominently female occupation, and it had to struggle for level of responsibility and recognition, against a male medical profession.

But in the US, there was an overlay of race. Negro women also entered the profession. Or at least tried to. Hine describes how the white female nursing associations responded, by imposing racist exclusionary requirements. In part to try and garner some "respectability" from the white male doctoral hierarchy. A pernicious choice that led to the formation of parallel Negro nursing groups. For those of you who may have heard of the Negro baseball leagues, there are clear parallels.

Professor emilie townes has written an important and often-overlooked book about African Americans and health care. She begins and ends her argument with scripture, and while scriptural references are not used throughout (indeed parts of the book have not religious content at all), the ideas of her chosen scripture passages give a foundation for the book. Prof. townes has a command of the US health system (with all its problems and solutions) and deftly shows how Black Americans are too often left out of the health equation altogether. More than just another doomsday version of everything we're doing wrong in America, Breaking the Fine Rain of Death gives us hope for the future and at times concrete ways to work toward healthier communities for all. In this, she truly offers an "ethic of care" upon which churches and religious leaders can build.

The Closing Argument is a compelling controversial meltdown of the government's HIV-AIDS pogrom. Every African-American should keep this book next to their Bible.

I have the 4 types of eczema that she talks about in the book, I agree with most of her ways to take care of my brownskin, hair is a different story, I can't see me perming my hair every 3 to 4 months otherwise I thinks this is a pretty good book I feel she knows what she is talking about so much that I'm making an appointment to see her.

While writing a history of medicine in the Civil War, historian Margaret Humphreys was side-tracked and as a result produced this scholarly monograph on the health of the black soldier. Her sources included the archival collections of the U.S. Sanitary Commission housed in the New York Public Library, documents in the National Archives and Records Administration and various texts on the social and health experience of African Americans during and after the war of the rebellion. Although about 13.5 per cent of white soldiers died during the Civil War, this figure was not only higher for black soldiers at 18.5 per cent, but the ratio of deaths from disease to battle casualties was almost four times higher among African Americans (2.7 vs 10). The most compelling statistic was the heavy toll--not from battle casualties--but mainly from inadequate provisions, health care and compassion from the regimental doctors and administrators. Among the leading health problems affecting the 140,000 black soldiers recruited from slave plantations or contraband camps were pneumonia, tuberculosis and scurvy. Humphreys presents evidence to suggest that some of these were preventable. However, the prevalent disdain for the blacks and refusal to provide adequate housing, clothing and fresh anti-scorbutic foods contributed to a higher morbidity and mortality. A scurvy epidemic in the summer of 1865 affected 60 to 80 per cent of the African American soldiers and resulted in some 2,500 preventable deaths. Some monies sent for food and medicines to alleviate hunger and malnutrition were used instead to buy and sell liquor for profit, but few were investigated or convicted. African Americans were mostly regarded as inferior both physically and intellectually--even though scientific evidence was lacking. Neither the Union or Confederate forces would have attained victory without the help of the black regiments; however, neither side acknowledged or recompensed their sacrifice. Humphrey's compact (197 pp) and stark account helps to remind us of the paradox that the Civil War was fought for the freedom of the slaves and yet it was this same group, now as soldiers, who suffered from racism and health disparities during the conflict.

Drs. Poussaint and Alexander poises thought provoking questions on the rise of African American suicides especially among young males. The authors states, if African Americans endured over three centuries of slavery and Jim Cow laws without succumbing to hopelessness and self negation, why is their a surge in suicides today? Is crime and poverty, (the catalysts of hopelessness) contributing to the demise of young African American males? Is the participation of young African Americans in drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sex, a form suicide, related to unfulled dreams and a feeling of hoplessness? The authors set out to answer these questions in the context of the pervasiveness of racism, which greatly contributes to a "mental health crisis" which is tightening its grip among young African Americans.

This book is an excellent secondary resource. Todd Savitt has compiled information usuing primary resources that allows the reader to understand the practical elements of health care for African Americans as well as poor whites during the antebellum time period.

Deborah Day has constructed a manual on mindfulness in the new millennium. She describes mindfulness as "a conscious state of being completely aware and in the present moment." Chock full of information, MINDFUL MESSAGES is somewhat of a guidebook for today's African-American youth and their parents on how to deal with the onslaught of HIV/AIDS, prevention, and the importance of the younger and older generations forming a bond to battle the societal issues in the here and now.

One way that Day relays her message of mindfulness is through poetry. In MINDFUL MESSAGES there are 26 poems, one for each letter of the alphabet, that use strong alliteration and powerful lyrics to bring home the intended messages. My favorite of these is entitled "Quick Quotes," in which the poet provides short quotes to enrich and enlighten the reader.

A glossary of the Akrunda symbols and their meanings, a listing of HIV/AIDS resources nationwide, agreements for youth to adhere to, and stories of people living with HIV/AIDS are also included in the book. These resources, agreements, stories, and guides are the essence of this book, promoting awareness and igniting a call to action.

Deborah Day evidently feels strongly about the disconnect between today's youth and their preceding generations. She has put together a formidable resource that the young and old alike should take note of, read, and ponder.(...)

If you live in Atlanta and wonder why its Briarcliff becomes Moreland when you cross Ponce, why Marta [stinks], or why even now this vibrant city seems so segregated, you need to read this book. It is an enlightening (if at some points dense) view of the history of Atlanta from the perspective on race and especially for my generation (those who grew up after the civil rights movement) it is a book about the side of race relations you can not truly fathom until you are able to put Atlanta of the past together with Atlanta today.

I thought this book was quite interesting. It explained Sickle Cell Anemia in an easy to understand manner. Some parts of the book were boring and seemed a little long, but I liked it when the book used stories of real people who live with the disease. All in all, I thought this book was very helpful and informative and I would recomend it to middleschool or highschool students who are doing a report on the topic.