Hope and Hip-Hop can help heal communities

By Carri Helman Hip-hop is an undeniable cultural juggernaut. Born from the streets, it’s always been a platform for expression, empowerment, and resilience. It speaks the language of the marginalized and amplifies voices that often go unheard. The Health, Hope, & Hip-Hop Foundation harnesses the energy of the Hip-Hop culture to address the health issues weighing on our communities of color. When it comes to illness and disease, the Black community bears the crushing weight of some staggering health statistics. Many environmental and behavioral factors can contribute to health disparities in any group of individuals including genetics, tobacco use, and diet or eating habits. However, deeply rooted familial, financial, and emotional elements also influence health outcomes in these populations. Did you know that people of color are 60% more likely to develop diabetes? BIPOC men and women are also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than their Caucasian peers. And even though they report less tobacco use, Black men are 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than white men. In fact, 40% more Black men are diagnosed with cancer overall than white men. When seeking much-needed and deserved medical care, communities of color also often face socioeconomic...