Black Men Deserve to Grow Old
"Black men deserve to grow old..."
It's become a common saying when black men succumb to gun violence or extrajudicial killing by rogue law enforcement.
And yet, sadly, when the city was rocked by the news that First Gentleman Jason Cantrell died of a heart attack at the age of 59, I messaged a friend about his passing and found myself typing in response, "black men deserve to grow old."
September is Healthy Aging Month, an annual observance that commemorates active aging. First commemorated in 1998, Healthy Aging Month is designed to encourage Americans to take control of their physical, social, emotional and mental well-being as they age.
And yet, for black men, the average life expectancy is 66.7 years old, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 10 years less than black women and 7 years less than non-Hispanic white males.