Mind, Body & Spirit
Americans are in a mental health crisis – especially African Americans. Can churches help?
For a variety of reasons, many African Americans face barriers to mental health care. But strengthening relationships between churches and mental health providers can be one way to increase access to needed services.
11 weight management tips that (really!) work
It’s not too late to make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight in 2021.
3 Ways Going Vegan has Helped my Walk with God
Switching has made me feel like I’m treating my body as a temple for the first time in a long time.
How to Avoid the Box of Limitation
You have to begin investing in self-affirmation ministry to yourself and build up the confidence muscles that may be feeble in you.
A Divine Connection: A Devotional
It seems almost ironic how a technology that was supposed to connect people more effectively has, in some respect, begun tearing them apart. The bible offers keen advice for fostering not just connection, but true community.
“Black people don’t commit suicide. That’s a white thing!”
This week is National Suicide Awareness Week, and this is a perfect time to shed light on what many deem a nonexistent problem.
The Miracle Mentality
Acclaimed author and motivational speaker Tim Storey explains how miracles can help you get out of a bad situation and get you into a better place.
Seller of Purple
In her new book, Seller of Purple, Dr. Tasha M. Brown lays out a solid framework for newbie women entrepreneurs.
RESPECT: An Interview with Jennifer Hudson
RESPECT tells the story of Aretha Franklin’s journey of faith and finding her voice. UrbanFaith sat down with Jennifer Hudson, the star of the film who portrays Ms. Franklin to discuss the themes of faith, Gospel, and how to find our voices from the film.
Big, Bold, & Beautiful: An Interview with Kierra Sheard-Kelly
UrbanFaith sat down with Gospel artist, entrepreneur, and now author Kierra Sheard Kelly about the release of her first book: Big, Bold, and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be which shares experiences, wisdom, and encouragement to walk in freedom through faith
Just Pray: An Interview with Pastor John Hannah
Many of us want to pray and grow in our prayer life, but struggle to figure out how to pray. Pastor John Hannah has insight to share. UrbanFaith interviewed Pastor Hannah about his new book Just Pray: How A Life Of Prayer Grows Unshakeable Faith.
With more than a million children orphaned by COVID, faith-based groups look to mobilize support
More than a million children around the world may have been orphaned by COVID-19, losing one or both parents to the disease or related causes.
With Roots in Civil Rights, Community Health Centers Push for Equity in the Pandemic
In the 1960s, health care across the Mississippi Delta was sparse and much of it was segregated. Some hospitals were dedicated to Black patients, but they often struggled to stay afloat. At the height of the civil rights movement, young Black doctors launched a movement of their own to address the care disparity that continues today.
Hospitals, Insurers Invest Big Dollars to Tackle Patients’ Social Needs
The move to address social needs is gaining steam nationally because, after nearly a dozen years focused on expanding insurance under the Affordable Care Act, many experts and policymakers agree that simply increasing access to health care is not nearly enough to improve patients’ health.
Cooking Up Success In Community: An Interview with Chef Q
UrbanFaith sat down with Chef Q who is the Executive Chef & Owner of Q1227 restaurant outside of Sacramento as he shared his recipe not only to survive, but thrive as an restauranteur, person of faith, and community catalyst in the midst of the pandemic.
Black community has new option for health care: The church
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Every Sunday at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Joseph Jackson Jr. praises the Lord before his congregation. But since last fall he's been praising something else his Black community needs: the COVID-19 vaccine. "We want to continue to...
NIH director: We asked God for help with COVID-19, and vaccines are the ‘answer to that prayer’
To help explain the role of faith groups in the national vaccine push, Religion News Service spoke with Francis Collins, an evangelical Christian who also serves as director of the National Institutes of Health. Collins discussed the program, as well as his faith and how he views the intersection of religion and science. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Trying to Avoid Racist Health Care, Black Women Seek Out Black Obstetricians
In addition to shared culture and values, a Black physician can offer Black patients a sense of safety, validation and trust. Research has shown that racism, discrimination and unconscious bias continue to plague the U.S. health care system and can cause unequal treatment of racial and ethnic minorities.
Will You Worry, Or Will You Remember?
As you lay in your bed at night, maybe you feel a sharp, persistent pain in your chest that will not leave. Or perhaps it is a sunken feeling in your stomach that feels like you swallowed a golf ball. For another person, it might be an inability to click the...
Racism Derails Black Men’s Health, Even as Education Levels Rise
More education typically leads to better health, yet Black men in the U.S. are not getting the same benefit as other groups, research suggests. The reasons for the gap are vexing, experts said, but may provide an important window into unique challenges faced by Black men as they try to gain not only good health but also an equal footing in the U.S.
Remembering the Black Wall Street Massacre
On that Memorial Day weekend, June 1st, 1921, Greenwood, Oklahoma, was brought to an abrupt end. Black wall street was wiped off the map. 300 African Americans murdered, possibly more. Our rural and urban Black communities deserve better. Take our stories and biblical connections and use them to make a difference.
Saved and Depressed: A Real Conversation About Faith and Mental Health
When you see a man walking down the street talking to himself, what is your first thought? Most likely it’s, “He is crazy!” What about the lady at the bus stop yelling strange phases? You immediately become guarded and move as far away from her as possible. I know you’ve done it. We all have.
Feeding your Temple: Body, Mind, and Spirit
God gave each of us these beautiful temples that were made in His image. It is imperative that we take care of them and treasure them just as He treasures us.
The Simple and Hard Facts About Being a Healthy Black Person
Being healthy is pretty simple, but most people in the United States find it pretty hard. And for an African American, it’s over-the-top hard. Not only is the struggle of getting healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle embedded in the culture, but there are sometimes actual physical and financial obstacles to overall health.
Health is Wealth
Whether you need to cram in a visit to the health center in-between college classes or you are scheduling your very first mammogram, here’s a list of the exams you need by decade.
‘Painless’ Glucose Monitors Pushed Despite Little Evidence They Help Most Diabetes Patients
In the nation’s battle against the diabetes epidemic, the go-to weapon being aggressively promoted to patients is as small as a quarter and worn on the belly or arm.
Black Churches Fill a Unique Role in Combating Vaccine Fears
Many of us look to our religious leaders for guidance on a wide range of issues — not just spiritual ones. Their credibility is especially crucial on matters of health.
All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living
In her book, “All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts For Boundless Living,” Morgan Harper Nichols not only expresses herself beautifully in both word and visual art, she offers a poetic balm to every person familiar with the sting of suffering.
Amid COVID and Racial Unrest, Black Churches Put Faith in Mental Health Care
Black Americans are less likely to receive mental health treatment than the overall population. But as needs soar this year, faith leaders are tapping health professionals to share coping skills churchgoers and the community can use immediately.
What’s not being said about why African Americans need to take the COVID-19 vaccine
Black people are skeptical about the new vaccines for many reasons. If public health leaders told the full story, maybe there would be a higher chance that Black people would want to take the vaccine.
5 Reasons Why African Americans Should Consider Taking the COVID-19 Vaccine
Before having the chance to speak with Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, I’ll admit I was a little nervous myself. But here are five key points from our conversation that are solid reasons why you should consider taking the vaccine.
Keep Calm and Carry On – But How?
A psychologist offers 10 tips to manage the uncertainty and stress of election aftermath.
The Black Church & HIV
World AIDS Day: A national network of faith leaders, religious institutions, and community members are committed to making change and ending the HIV epidemic in Black America.
Black clergy, United Way to launch anti-coronavirus effort
The new initiative is designed to combat the coronavirus’ outsized toll on African Americans through ramped-up testing, contact tracing and treatment management.
How to host a safe holiday meal during coronavirus
COVID-19 and holiday family gatherings are not a good pair. But taking the right precautions before, during and after the family gets together can greatly reduce coronavirus risk this holiday season.
Black Doctors Work to Make Coronavirus Testing More Equitable
The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium has increased access to coronavirus testing in the Philadelphia region, testing more than 10,000 people. The group’s mobile unit and pop-up testing sites also offer patients an opportunity to connect with African American health care providers.
Pink Ribbon Warriors
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American women — and their most common cause of cancer death. Here are tips for reducing your risk and winning the fight.
Good nutrition can contribute to keeping COVID-19 and other diseases away
The COVID-19 pandemic won’t be the last we face, so it’s vital that we use every preventive tool we as a society have. Think of good nutrition as a seat belt for your health; it doesn’t guarantee you won’t get sick, but it helps to ensure the best outcomes.
Tired or stressed? Maybe it’s time for a digital detox
Cell phones and other digital devices can be a great way to keep up with the news and stay connected with friends and family, but using one excessively can increase your stress levels, negatively impact sleep and limit the amount of quality time you spend with your significant other.
Rhymes Of Their Times: Young Poets Riff On Type 2
Young people are harnessing the power of poetry to raise awareness about Type 2 diabetes.
Why Black Aging Matters, Too
Old. Chronically ill. Black. People who fit this description are more likely to die from COVID-19 than any other group in the country. Yet, older Black Americans have received little attention as protesters proclaim that Black Lives Matter and experts churn out studies about the coronavirus.
COVID vaccine trial includes Black Christian university presidents
President C. Reynold Verret of Xavier University of Louisiana and President Walter M. Kimbrough of Dillard University are taking part in the Phase 3 trial of the Ochsner Health System.
Chadwick Boseman’s death from colorectal cancer underscores health gaps for African Americans
The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman at age 43 following a four-year battle against colorectal cancer underscores two important public health concerns.
‘Is This When I Drop Dead?’
Two Doctors Report From the COVID Front Lines.
Namaste Noir: Yoga Co-Op Seeks to Diversify Yoga to Heal Racialized Trauma
In dealing with her son’s violent murder, fear over the coronavirus pandemic and the stress of coping with systemic racism, Beverly Grant has found strength and peace through yoga.
What spiritual retreats can teach us about the challenges of lockdown
Learning from the example of spiritual retreats.
On the Minds of Black Lives Matter Protesters: A Racist Health System
When speaking out against the loss of black lives, it is tough to separate those who die at the hands of police from those who die in a pandemic that has laid bare the structural racism baked into the American health system.
10 activities for body and mind while social distancing
Staying busy, positive, and hopeful while you’re at home due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic can help you maintain good mental and physical health.
How hope can keep you healthier and happier
Hope can be acquired. How? Here are some suggestions from an expert.
Modern Faith
Dr. Neichelle Guidry, currently the Dean of the Chapel and Director of the WISDOM Center at Spelman College, shares her authentic and uplifting approach to ministry, the new season of her podcast Modern Faith, and the woman she admires most in the Bible.