Manhood, in the black community, is defined in many ways. The more mature contextual definitions are fatherhood, “Bread winner,” protector, role model. The more immature definitions are “Gangsta,” “Playa,” “Pimp,” “Dog” (anything but a “Man”). One of the rarest definitions of black manhood is “healthy.” Black men often confuse physique with health. They tend to work on their physiques, thinking they’re working on their health. How wrong many of them are? As society hypes outer beauty and forsakes inner beauty, black men are so busy trying to get attention in the presentation of their outer body, they forsake their inner bodies.

The deadliest killer in the black community is not gangs, or drugs, or black on black crime (as deadly as they are). It’s the “self on self” crime of ignoring our health. The biggest killer of black males is now colon cancer. While health organizations have spent the last two decades convincing black men it’s okay to get their prostates checked, most have still never had a colon exam.

The fear of dying has never been an over-preoccupation for many black males. They die over gang turf, over card and dice games, drug debts and, of course, there’s the careless, high risk lifestyles many lead. The “dare” defines the realities of black manhood. Emasculation, as effective as it is in education, employment and wealth-building, is ignored when it comes to health. Black men, who walk through urban “wars zones” everyday and live with the threats of many forms of “domestic terrorism” that occur in our communities nearly everyday of their lives, are scared to go to the doctor, and scared, that’s right—I said scared, to get prostates and colons pressed—because it’s obtrusive to their “manhood.” So they “punk out,” often to the detriment of their health, to their families and to their prospects of long life.

As much as black men can be dared and scared into doing foolish things, for fear of being called a “punk,” they need to be smart enough to now when they’re being emasculated by when they are convinced they’re so invincible that they don’t have to go to the doctor. Psychological warfare has always been the great manipulator in our society. Being told that you’re something that you’re not, or you can’t be what you can, makes you confused about what is real as it relates to your own capacity, and more critically, your own mortality. Black men still have the highest mortality rates (under 30 and over 50) that any other segment of a society that has extended life expectancy by five years over the past ten years. Under 30, black male short life expectancy is due to violence and exposure to poor lifestyle choices (HIV/AIDs, drug abuse).

Over 50, black male short life expectancy (now 66 years of age) is due to poor health care maintenance, particularly—late discovery of largely curable (or manageable) diseases. While many in the nation are living healthier lifestyles, and medical improvements have shown an ability to detect illness earlier and prevent the debilitating effects of some of the more serious diseases in our society, black males are less likely to see a doctor on a regular basis. Certainly, we understand it might be a function of economics—health care access being a legitimate issue in our society—but even among men of means and men with “benefits” where their health care costs are covered, black men still don’t go to the doctor.

Black men are “punkish” about their health and their health care—and that’s the worse thing you can call a black man. Hospitals and doctors are for old people and punks (except for gun shot wounds) as far as many young and middle aged black men are concerned. Some would rather die than see a doctor. And many are. They’re being “punked” on a whole ‘nother level. Punking themselves out of years of their life, due to ignorance and another kind of foolish pride. Black men love to “keep it real” though. So it’s time to get real about getting your colon checked.

Colon cancer, along with prostate cancer, are two of the most curable of the cancer contractions when detected early. Prostate cancer deaths have been on the decline over the past years, as finally black men (and white men too) got it. However, colon cancer deaths are still on the incline as the message still hasn’t made it to black men in the same way. Black men are 10% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and twice as likely to develop colon cancer prior to the age of age.

Suggested check-ups should begin at age 40 (earlier if you have a family history of cancer).  Regular check-ups should begin at age 50, but for many black men—age 50 is already too late as the cancer is in its advanced stages. A colonoscopy every two to three years would reduce this risk significantly. A simple procedure can be a life-saver but it’s more intrusive than the simple PSA blood test and proc exams for prostate cancer. It took black men a minute to get with that one. Now it’s time for us to take the next step. Checking your prostate without checking your colon is like checking the water in your car without checking the oil. It takes both to run. We need to help black men understand how to tune up their bodies, inside and out.

This past March was Colon Cancer Awareness Month. “Early Detention” is what black men need to acquaint themselves with most. Join the American Cancer Society, USC/Norris Hospital, Real Men Cook and the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 22^nd , 2008, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 5400 West Century (at LAX), Los Angeles, CA 90045. A serious conversation will be had about what it takes to be “a man,” serious about his body and more serious about his health. Black men need to have a life and death conversation about colon cancer. One that they will take to heart, for themselves and their families.

I must warn you, however. It’s not a conversation for punks. Only “real men” need attend.

 

Your comments are always welcome.