Rev. Jesse Jackson: "Poverty Is Bad For Your Health"

In the words of Rev. Jesse Jackson, poverty is bad for your health. I sat in an audience at a recently concluded "State Of The Black Family" summit, organized by The Word Network, and hosted by Greater Grace Temple of Detroit, MI. A panel including Rev. Jackson discussed the state of the black family in America today. The aim of the summit was to highlight issues facing the African American family and what remedies can be applied. I was intrigued at the information presented to the audience. Knowledge is power and if we are to remove ourselves from the bondage of poverty then we must empower and arm ourselves with information. We are all aware of diseases affecting our population.

What we might not have internalized is the extent to which poverty impacts diseases. For example, a person living in an inner city community without reliable transportation has very little options in order to maintain a diet that is healthy and supportive of his wellness goals. The store on the corner is less inclined to carry times such as fresh fruit and vegetables but is armed to the teeth with alcohol, canned goods, foods high in sodium,and low in nutrition. Poverty is bad for your health. Poverty is also a vicious cycle as it afflicts generation after generation of individuals who exist on the edges of society who never have enough to maintain their current situation or to allow for economic empowerment of the next generation.

How do we stop this vicious cycle from afflicting our population? We need programs that offer support and and educational investment among youth of inner city populations.There has to be some community regeneration projects with the underlying intention of making each community economically empowered. Read more:  http://harrietcammock.blogspot.com/2011/09/poverty-is-bad-for-your-health.html?spref=bl