Food For Thought

By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff WriterGreater numbers of people are looking beyond traditional sources for their monthly grocery needs, as inflation drives up food costs to unaffordable levels. The lack of healthy food in many communities makes day-to-day life challenging.Mixing systemic racism, low wages, unemployment and resulting poverty is a troubling recipe for long-term – in many cases generational – food insecurity.Racial disparities in food security predate COVID-19, but the pandemic heightened matters. Feeding America estimated that 1 in 5 African Americans experienced food insecurity in 2022, at a rate of almost two-and-a-half times that of whites. Blacks are also more likely to live in food deserts, areas with little to no access to healthy and affordable food options. Living in a food desert often means traveling far to shop, or for those who can’t, shopping at convenience stores and mini marts like 7-Eleven and AM/PM. Many of these corner stores are more likely to sell liquor and junk food than healthy food options.Armed with the knowledge that food insecurity can lead to poor outcomes and impact the community’s overall health and well-being, Black organizations have taken the lead in addressing the multi-layered issue.The “for us, by us”...