BLACK MEN + HEALTH

Bronny James, Damar Hamlin, & The Heart Crisis: Black Male Athleticism

Why Black athletes are five times more likely to die than Whites.

Young Black Athlete Pictured Above | Photo Courtesy of Focused Collection

Becoming a top athlete in any sport requires a commitment to achieving one’s innermost form, embracing diversion, not from reality, but from the burdens of a normal existence. While some call their efforts rare or remarkable, playing sports is a collective response to our deepest human needs to be seen, reached, inspired, and accepted by others.

America’s love affair with sports is evident. From filled stadiums to the immense amount of money they spend on fandom, they’ve shown their devotion. However, it is important to consider those represented on the field or court. “66.3 percent of all pro football players and a whopping 76.3 percent of NBA players” are Black men who put their bodies on the line to play the sport they love and entertain the public.

Sadly, Black athletes’ health is often ignored. Medical experts have warned: “that the mental health of college athletes, and especially Black athletes, is being overlooked.” And some Black student-athletes reported feeling they were “treated more like machines than humans.” As a community, we should be more concerned about their experience, and quite frankly…