Overview
The African American community is the second-largest minority ethnic community in the United States after the Hispanics. It comprises of people whose ancestry can be partially or fully traced back to the Sub-Saharan African ethnicities (Anderson & Stewart, 2012). Although the group may appear as a one-dimensional cultural entity, it comprises individuals from numerous backgrounds, educations, and ideological views.
Demographics
According to the Population Reference Bureau (2011), by 2010, African Americans constituted about 13.6% of the total US population at 42,020,743. This figure included about 3,091,424 individuals who identified as Black and also belonged to at least one other race. The American states with the largest African American population were New York with 3.3 million, Texas with 3.2 million, Florida with 3.2 million, and Georgia with 3.1 million (Population Reference Bureau, 2011). By 2013, the population of African Americans is expected to hit 45 million constituting 15.25% of the US population, and is also projected to hit 75 million by 2060 (Population Reference Bureau, 2011).
Healthcare practices
Many African Americans are increasingly becoming aware of modern healthcare options. As a result, the folk healing traditions and the popularity of home remedies are steadily being overtaken by conventional medical interventions (Anderson & Stewart, 2012). However, the impact of the folk healing traditions still influences the choices made by some modern African American families.
Risk behaviors
Among the most prevalent health risk factors among members of the African American ethnic group are smoking, unhealthy eating, involvement in drugs and gang activities, and irresponsible sexual behaviors especially among the youths. For instance, an approximated 22.7% of African American men over 18 years are cigarette smokers while 15.2% of women in the same age category are also smokers (Watts, 2013).
Genetic susceptibility to chronic conditions
Some chronic conditions are more prevalent among African Americans than any other ethnic group. For instance, the major causes of African Americans’ deaths include heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, unintentional injuries and homicide. The most common type of cancer among African American men is considered to be prostate cancer. As claimed by Watts (2013), the preference for this cancer type is 50% higher among African American men than Whites. Breast cancer is also more common among Black than any other racial group (Watts, 2013). Despite that heart disease is common among all ethnic populations in the US; it is disproportionally higher among African Americans. 24.5% of annual deaths as a result of heart disease constitute of African Americans with men making more than half that number (Watts, 2013).
Nutrition
Some African American families still uphold the traditions of soul food which often includes sugar flavors, sodium, and high-fat levels (Watts, 2013). Considering the modern lifestyles that are defined by high levels of inactivity, these foods are very unhealthy. However, some African American families prefer family-cooked meals to fast foods.
Spirituality
Spirituality is one of the dominant aspects of the African American identity. While in the past the spirituality of African Americans was greatly influenced by their African roots, currently over 90% of African Americans are Protestant Christians (Population Reference Bureau, 2011). The Negro spirituals are still common among African American Christians.
Death Rituals
The concept of death is significantly different among African Americans compared to other ethnic communities in the US. The mourning practices, death rites, and even the understanding of the concept are totally unique in this group (Anderson & Stewart, 2012). While other communities view death as a sad occasion, the African Americans regard death as a time to rejoice as one of their own will no longer have to experience the tribulations of the world. African American funerals are marked by joyful celebrations attended by family members, friends, and other members of the community.
References
Anderson, T.J., & Stewart, J.B. (2012). Introduction to African American Studies: Transdisciplinary Approaches and Implications (2nd Ed.). Baltimore, MD: Imprint Press.
Population Reference Bureau (2011). Reports on America: First Results from the 2010 Census. Washington, DC: Author.
Watts, R. (2013). Race consciousness and the health of African Americans. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 8 (1). 1-10.