Civil Rights Icon Launches Challenge to Raise Awareness of Prostate Cancer in Black Men

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and civil rights icon Dr. Charles D. Neblett is launching a brand new project to promote health care equity for the black community.

After being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, Neblett launched the #BlackProstateCheckChallenge, calling on Black prostate cancer patients and survivors to share their experiences using the hashtag.

Through the #BlackProstateCheckChallenge initiative, Neblett’s family nonprofit, Community Projects, Inc., seeks to “create open dialogue, overcome stigma and fear, capture snapshots of experiences, and share information and resources to illuminate the complex issues surrounding health equity among Black men.”

“To give a platform to the often ignored voices of Black men, we started this challenge to give them a space to be heard,” said Kwesi Neblett, president of Community Projects, Inc., creator of the #BlackProstateCancerChallenge and son of Dr. Neblett, in a press release shared BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

“Now we need to pay attention to what matters to black men as patients. We’ve asked physicians and policymakers to pay attention and listen to relevant social media updates on the pressing issues of this moment.”

According to the American Cancer Society, black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, with 1 in 6 receiving a diagnosis compared to 1 in 8 white men. Additionally, statistics show that black men even have a better mortality rate from the disease, which is twice as high as white men.

“Health inequities are everyone’s problem,” said Dr. Lisa Cooper, MD. “Many of the factors that contribute to inequality in America stem from a history of unequal opportunity and unfair treatment of people from vulnerable communities. Everyone is affected by the factors that harm the health of the most disadvantaged, not just the most disadvantaged.”

Through the #BlackProstateCancerChallenge initiative, which takes place on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, and Facebook, Community Projects has connected with several prostate cancer doctors who’re providing resources to the masses to promote prostate cancer awareness. Among them are Dr. Clayton Yates of Johns Hopkins, Dr. Otis Brawley, Dr. Lisa Cooper, concierge medicine operator Dr. Naysha Isom, and community activist and co-founder Doug Davis.