Tag: black health and wellness

Editor’s Note:

February is the observation of Black History and the 2022 theme is “Black Health and Wellness”.

A history riddled with slavery, Jim Crow Laws, and disparate treatment has had an impact on Black people. Being in a state of complete, physical, mental and social well-being for many is a dream deferred. Access to adequate healthcare along with distrust of a system that has historically used Blacks as guinea pigs without apology, the resistance to mental health care, and micro-aggressions have led to issues that leave a high percentage of Black women and men with compromised health and wellness.

There is no excuse for domestic violence (a public health issue), however, looking at the societal root causes we must take note of the lack of control that both men and women often feel secondary to racial oppression. Approximately forty percent of Black women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Most will not seek assistance due to taboos of revealing “family problems” and working with a counselor/psychologist still is not welcome amongst most people of color.

The availability of culturally relevant services in Houston and Harris County is so important. So, Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council takes this Black History moment to salute Fresh Spirit founded by Dr. Conte Terrell almost twenty-five years ago to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Dr. Conte’s program is open to all survivors, however, as a woman of color, she has been a beacon of hope for hundreds of Black women who are working to take their lives back.

There are many grassroot groups here in Houston and Harris County that are doing the work in their communities of color and HCDVCC desires to celebrate and support them. We have engaged in an intern to have interviews with these amazing unsung heroines/heroes to get a better understanding of the needs and the services being provided to link them to larger programs. Please contact Thecia Jenkins if you know of organizations that are providing culturally specific services that would like to be interviewed and possibly be included in a future project on building capacity.

For more information on Fresh Spirit, please visit www.freshspirit.org