Black and Brown scholars (e.g., Griffith et al., Citation2024a; Griffith et al., Citation2021b; Omenka et al., Citation2020; Opozda et al., Citation2024; Shaw et al., Citation2024; Thorpe et al., Citation2020) have tirelessly explicated the importance of tailoring health promotion messages for African and African-American men’s health. As such, this research foci not only formalized the impetus of this special issue but also displays my firm personal commitment to Black Men’s Health.
In the landscape of public health and social work, a critical intersection demands urgent attention: the health and well-being of Black men. This historically excluded group faces significant health disparities rooted in systemic racism, socioeconomic challenges, and cultural factors that necessitate a targeted and multifaceted approach from practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and communities alike.
The statistics are stark and undeniable. Black men in the United States experience disproportionately higher rates of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases compared to their counterparts. Mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety, also afflict a significant portion of this population, often exacerbated by societal stigmas and barriers to accessing culturally competent care.
Introduction to the special issue
As social workers and educators committed to promoting equity and social justice, we must dismantle the structural barriers contributing to these gendered disparities. This requires a nuanced understanding of the social determinants of health that uniquely impact Black men, including economic inequality, inadequate healthcare access, discriminatory practices within healthcare systems, and the cumulative impact of chronic stress resulting from racism and marginalization.
Moreover, effective interventions must be rooted in culturally responsive practices that acknowledge and honor the diversity of Black male experiences. This entails fostering trust and rapport through community engagement, addressing historical trauma, and leveraging community assets to promote resilience and holistic well-being.
Research also plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of effective interventions and policies. Rigorous studies are needed to identify best practices, evaluate existing programs, and advocate for policies prioritizing Black men’s health equity. This includes advocating for increased funding for research initiatives focused on Black men’s health and fostering collaborations across disciplines to drive innovation and impact.
In education and training, social work and public health programs must integrate comprehensive curricula that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and cultural competence necessary to engage with and support Black men across diverse settings effectively. This includes promoting awareness of implicit biases, facilitating critical dialogue on race and health, and fostering a commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy.
In this special issue, we provide a succinct and concise exposition of each author’s contribution to public health social work as it relates to Black Men’s Health. This two-volume special issue is divided into five sections: (1) Black Fathers: Guardians of Maternal Health, (2) Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Strategies for Black Men, (3) Navigating the Stigma: Addressing Mental Health Among Black Men. (4) Innovative Mental Health Interventions for Black Men, and (5) Social Work Education Must Prioritize Black Men’s Health.
Black Fathers: Guardians of Maternal Health
Research has shown (e.g., Dorsey, Citation2022; Johnson & Briggs, Citation2021; Russell et al., Citation2024; Walsh et al., Citation2023) that Black fathers play a crucial role in maternal health due to their significant influence on the well-being of both the mother and child. Their involvement can positively impact maternal health outcomes in several ways (McHale et al., Citation2023). With that said, three articles highlight that Black fathers’ presence and active engagement are essential for promoting maternal health by providing physical, emotional, and practical support throughout the maternal journey.
Their role contributes significantly to the well-being of both mothers and children, ensuring healthier outcomes and stronger family dynamics. Lemmons’ research team conceptualized maternal gatekeeping by applying the social determinants of health framework and family systems theory to examine the impact of black fathers’ perceptions of maternal gatekeeping on their self-reported ratings of physical and mental health.
In that same vein, Alston postulates through a conceptual framework the potential of African American fathers’ involvement in supporting maternal health during the perinatal period. Her research findings support not only the vital role Black fatherhood plays in maternal health but also serve as a key figure in improving maternal health outcomes. Prominent Black fatherhood scholar Waldo Johnson Jr., PhD., has written extensively (e.g., Johnson et al., Citation2016, Citation2020; Perry & Johnson, Citation2017) about the pivotal roles that Black fathers have and continue to play within family dynamics. As such, Thrasher’s study reveals how Black fathers’ socioemotional responses to youth violence impact their wellness and fathering practices as their children mature amid youth violence in Louisiana.
Finally, Cross’s utilization of existing literature and two case studies of Black fathers serve as a means of better extrapolating their mental health needs and coping strategies as they relate to their NICU experiences to identify better evidence-based psychosocial interventions. These exceptional young Black women’s scholarship serves as a testament to the importance of honoring the role and purpose of Black fatherhood as it relates to positive maternal health outcomes. In Black diasporic communities, paternal involvement aligns with cultural values of family unity and support, reinforcing positive maternal health practices (Misra et al., Citation2023; Ncayiyane & Nel, Citation2024).
Chronic disease prevention and management strategies for Black men
Previous research has highlighted the disparities regarding the prevalence of chronic health conditions among African Americans compared to other groups, with low-income African American men disproportionately affected by almost every disorder investigated (Powell et al., Citation2016; Watson, Citation2014). Three articles shed light on these disparities within the context of cultural competence, with implications for social work practice and public health. Lang-Lindsey posits that cultural competence is crucial in healthcare, especially for African American men with kidney disease, who face significant health disparities due to socioeconomic, access, and disease prevalence factors. The article emphasizes the importance of healthcare providers developing cultural competence – awareness, knowledge, and skills – to improve outcomes for this demographic. It highlights the epidemiological challenges, including genetic and environmental factors, and stresses a culturally competent approach that understands patients’ cultural norms and health beliefs.
The paper advocates for a patient-centered framework to enhance cultural competence, involving strategies like specialized training for healthcare professionals and adopting patient-centered care that respects patients’ preferences and involves them in decision-making processes. This approach acknowledges the role of social determinants of health and aims to overcome systemic biases and the need for a diverse healthcare workforce. This research contributes to the broader discourse on mental health equity and underscores the importance of personalized approaches to support the well-being of these African-American men.
In addition, Bhattacharya’s cross-sectional research study’s primary objective was to learn from the lived experiences of and with Black males and assess their self-association with the factors contributing to strengths and barriers of self-management of T2DM. Conversely, Collette sought to determine whether COVID-19-related perspectives and behaviors impacted cross-sectional health outcomes for Black men. Each respective study underscores the importance of culturally nuanced introspection related to Black Men’s self-management practice.
Dooley-Robinson postulates that self-management programs are valuable tools for managing chronic disorders beyond the doctor’s office. Using an intersectional approach, the author provides a detailed exploration of the current state of the research on low-income African American men with chronic health conditions through a nuanced synthesis of relevant literature. The project outlines the need for targeted, culturally competent programs designed to engage low-income African American men with skills, resources, and tools suitable for managing chronic conditions. Authors argue that improvements to traditional self-management programs can be realized by emphasizing culture, including end-users in creating targeted programs, and offering culturally explicit strategies to improve patient health. A case is made for effective, culturally appropriate, self-managed solutions to guard against deteriorating chronic conditions, maintain effective health strategies, and foster preventative measures that result in positive health outcomes.
Navigating the stigma: addressing mental health among Black men
In contemporary US society, mental health remains a critical but often stigmatized issue, particularly among Black men. Despite strides toward destigmatization, cultural and societal barriers persist, influencing perceptions and access to mental health resources. This section explores the complexities of navigating these challenges, emphasizing the importance of tailored interventions and community support in fostering mental well-being among Black men. By addressing these issues head-on, we aim to shed light on effective strategies that promote mental health awareness, resilience, and empowerment within the Black community. There are a large number of published studies (e.g., Watkins, Citation2012; Watkins & Goodwill, Citation2019; Watkins et al., Citation2006, Citation2015, Citation2023) that describe the link between mental health stigma and the overall well-being of Black men.
Five articles within this special issue sought to add to the existing literature in substantive ways as it relates to Black men’s mental health awareness. For instance, Shaw’s research highlighted the positive outcomes related to culturally nuancing mental health stigma as understood through the lens of Black men based on his partnership between social workers and barbershops. Data from several studies suggests that barbershops can serve as trusted and culturally appropriate environments for discussing health-related issues prevalent among Black men (Jalloh et al., Citation2023; Joseph et al., Citation2024; Murphy et al., Citation2017; Williams & Rios, Citation2022; Wippold et al., Citation2024).
By way of illustration, Turenza and Diggs formulated a conceptual frame based on social work theory to showcase how the safe spaces within the Black Church could potentially mitigate negative mental health outcomes for Black Men. It is important to note that Brice and Hardy (Citation2015), two social work scholars, launched a special issue to build upon the historical legacy of the Black Church, which continues to serve as a social service institution for its congregants and community members. K. M. Hardy (Citation2012, Citation2014) has long argued for a collaborative partnership between clinical social workers and the church as a means of addressing mental health concerns among their congregations.
Moving on, we now consider Cloud and Sanders’ respective conceptual papers that discuss the legacy of mental health among Black men. Sanders’s conceptual paper explores how the misdiagnoses attributed to Black men often stem from the intersections of historical trauma, race-based discrimination, and trauma stress reactions primarily due to a lack of cultural humility. Cloud’s paper seeks to showcase a synthesization of how mental health stigmatization perpetuates negative mental health outcomes among Black men and their wider community. In addition, he explores the sequelae between various cultural and social factors that significantly contribute to negative mental health outcomes among this NIH-targeted population.
Innovative mental health interventions for Black men
There are gaps in psychosocial interventions, and it becomes crucial that we examine and discuss medical and nonmedical social determinants of health specifically for Black men. With regard to mental interventions, Rostant’s research underscores the limited extrapolation of depressive symptomatology among older Black men; thus, she discusses the importance of engaging in a broader discourse of how risk factors associated with depression among older Black men necessitate deeper, nuanced, and robust research approaches. Sluytman uses an ecosystems-driven intersectional model to identify resilience in addition to personal, social, and societal constructs believed to influence the way older African American men live their lives with HIV. Finally, Jenkins uses a convenience sampled student to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption, demographics, and the social-cultural factors among African American college students. At the same time, Lateef explores Afrocentric norms, Afrocentric self-regard, internalized negative stereotypes, and substance use attitudes and behaviors among substance-abusing Black young adults.
Social work education must prioritize Black men’s health
While social workers are vital to the assessment and treatment of “individuals and families with mental health and addiction concerns” (Kourgiantakis et al., Citation2020, p. 588), research indicates there is a growing need for social work education, with particular emphasis on Black men’s health, across various health sectors. According to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), “social work practice competence consists of nine interrelated competencies which include knowledge and values” (Council on Social Work Education (CWSE), Citation2015, p. 6).
Some researchers have acknowledged that social work has examined mental health, addiction, etc., but also assert there is a gap as it relates to teaching individuals and families how to self-assess, be self-aware of certain feelings, and regulate emotions properly. Social work, as a field of study and occupation, has long been considered a safe space for many. Known for advocating for marginalized groups of people, it is often highly regarded for producing desired changes in the individual and collective lives of people served. While social work helps to advance the lives of many, there is a need to provide education that will support Black men in their pursuits of optimum, holistic health. Within this special edition, four articles address the gap in research on social work education and its need to prioritize Black men’s health.
According to Mabrouk, this pursuit begins in Social Work programs across the globe. She suggests that despite the evident impact, significant scholarship exists addressing these issues, thus emphasizing the urgent need for the social work profession to confront and comprehend how implicit biases and racial microaggressions impede the success of Black social work students.
In another article, Mincey juxtaposed masculinity and race in relation to mental health among Black male graduate students. Through a qualitative study using in-depth interviews, Black male graduate students enrolled at a private university in the southern United States were provided access to their lived experiences.
Ware used the ecological exchange framework to examine adherence to or deviation from traditional masculine norms from focus groups with 13 Black heterosexual men at two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and one Minority-Serving Institution. Finally, Higgins chronicles his lived experiences through an autoethnographic approach that explores the critical intersections of race, education, and mental health throughout the lifespan of Black men.
Conclusion
Ultimately, addressing the health disparities faced by Black men requires a concerted effort that transcends disciplinary boundaries and embraces a holistic approach to health and wellness. It demands courage to confront systemic inequities, compassion to listen to and amplify marginalized voices, and resilience to advocate for sustainable change.
As the incumbent Editor-in-Chief, I firmly believe the Journal of Social Work in Public Health stands at a pivotal juncture to lead and catalyze these efforts. By centering Black men’s health in our research agendas, clinical practices, and policy advocacy, we can advance health equity, promote social justice, and create a more inclusive and resilient society for all. Let us commit ourselves to this critical mission, recognizing that our collective actions today will shape the health outcomes and futures of generations of Black men tomorrow.
The development of this special issue would not have been possible without the continued and dedicated support of my social work colleagues, Drs. Kiana Webb-Robinson and Terrell Brown, alongside my university-based colleague Dr. Takeisha Durm’s expertise in the social foundations of education. Their cumulative research skills and knowledge base regarding Black Men’s Health and education allowed us to produce these two-volume, thought-provoking manuscripts. It goes without saying that their content analysis and assistance with the final editing process contributed significantly to the production of my first special issue within the journal.
In addition, I want to acknowledge my first mentor and colleague, Dr. Kimberly Hardy, former contributing Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Social Work in Public Health. Dr. Hardy continues to embody the attributes of a true social work leader by reaching out a hand to guide those coming behind her. Before my post as the inaugural Associate Editor and subsequent elevation to Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Hardy has been and continues to be my loudest cheerleader. This special issue arose due to our shared commitment to ameliorating health disparities for individuals, groups, and families within the African diaspora. I hope these volumes spark a deeper and louder discourse around substantive and tangible ways to improve health outcomes for Black Men nationwide.
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