Health

Inez Watson and Velmar Byrd, both seniors, have overcome the cultural and structural barriers that keep Black Americans from accessing swimming, and are now encouraging others to do the same.

The Trump administration is using grand jury subpoenas to force providers of gender-affirming care to comply with its demands for sensitive medical records of transgender minors, sparking alarm among advocates and minors who receive the treatments.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can help Black families prepare for high-risk births and manage potentially life-threatening conditions, despite medical mistrust and uneven access to care.

Black men are increasingly dying from "deaths of despair" due to a mental health crisis, while cultural expectations, mistrust of mental health systems, and a shortage of Black providers prevent many from getting help before it is too late.

77% of Americans are calling for mandated warning labels on ultraprocessed foods, 70% want companies banned from advertising them on children's television, and 87% want government safety testing for all chemicals used in food products.

Microsoft and Mayo Clinic are partnering to build an AI model trained on medical data, which will eventually be used to power AI tools for clinicians and an AI healthcare assistant for patients.

Juliana Nzita, a 16-year-old Black teenager, was found hanging from a tree on church property in Charlotte, NC, and her death has sparked anger and suspicion due to its similarity to other unexplained hangings of Black people in the Deep South.

Word In Black recently convened a panel of food policy experts, scholars, and faith-based organizers to address food access and hunger in Black America. The discussion explored the dual narratives of joy and survival, while highlighting the significant impact of the Trump administration's $187 billion cut to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which has disproportionately affected Black communities.

The US government is prepared to allow American passengers exposed to a unique strain of hantavirus to return home as early as Monday, provided their states post a monitor outside their homes 24/7 for the remaining three weeks of their six-week quarantine.

Experts advise people to practice regular handwashing, get vaccinated, wear N95 masks when viruses are active, and avoid crowds to protect themselves from viruses, as well as being cautious about what they eat and drink when traveling abroad.