NAACP Calls for a Comprehensive National Plan to Combat Premature Morbidity and Mortality in African American Men in the United States

WHEREAS, Significant and persistent health disparities exist in the United States, resulting in disproportionately higher rates of premature morbidity and mortality among African American men compared to other racial and gender groups, with a life expectancy at birth of 67.6 years (Arias, Xu, Kochanek, 2023); and

WHEREAS, These disparities are rooted in a complex interplay of systemic discrimination and racism, historical injustices, socioeconomic inequities, environmental factors, violence, and limited access to quality healthcare; and

WHEREAS, The consequences of this premature morbidity and mortality extend beyond individual loss, impacting families, communities, and the overall well-being and productivity of the nation; and

WHEREAS, Existing efforts to address these disparities have been insufficient to achieve health equity for African American men, necessitating a more comprehensive and coordinated national strategy; and

WHEREAS, A comprehensive plan must address the root causes of these disparities across the life course, encompassing prevention, early detection, access to culturally proficient care, and targeted interventions; and

WHEREAS, Such a plan requires the collaboration of federal, state, and local government agencies across all levels, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, researchers, and the active engagement of African American men themselves; and

WHEREAS, Specific areas requiring focused attention within a comprehensive plan include, but are not limited to:

• Addressing Systemic Racism and Discrimination: Implementing policies and practices that address and dismantle systemic racism in healthcare, housing, education, employment, the criminal justice system, and all other types of social and political determinants of health, all of which contribute to poor health outcomes.
• Improving Access to Quality and Culturally Proficient Healthcare: Expanding access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare services, including preventative care, mental health services, oral healthcare, vision care, and treatment for chronic diseases, delivered by a diverse and culturally proficient healthcare workforce.
• Targeting Key Health Conditions: Developing and implementing targeted interventions to address the leading causes of premature morbidity and mortality in African American men, such as cardiovascular disease, various types of cancer, including but not limited to prostate, stomach, and lung cancers, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, suicide, and violence.
• Promoting Health Education and Literacy: Investing in culturally relevant health education programs and initiatives that empower African American men to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
• Investing in Research and Data Collection: Prioritizing research to better understand the specific factors contributing to health disparities among African American men and improving the collection and analysis of disaggregated data to inform targeted interventions.
• Engaging Communities and Building Trust: Fostering meaningful partnerships with African American communities and building trust in the healthcare system through community-based participatory research and culturally tailored outreach efforts.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People strongly advocates for the development and implementation of a comprehensive national plan to combat premature morbidity and mortality in African American men in the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls upon federal, state, and local governments to allocate significant resources and prioritize the implementation of evidence-based strategies and promising practices to achieve health equity for African American men; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges healthcare providers, researchers, community-based organizations, and philanthropic entities to actively participate in the development and execution of this comprehensive plan and subsequent solutions; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution be disseminated to relevant policymakers, government agencies, healthcare organizations, community leaders, and the public to underscore the urgent need for a coordinated and sustained national effort to eliminate these unacceptable health disparities and ensure that African American men can live long and healthy lives.