National Civil Rights Museum Hosts Discussion on Black Men’s Prostate Health

On September 16, the National Civil Rights Museum will host organizing a discussion on inequalities in access to prostate cancer treatment amongst black men. The panel discussion, titled “Addressing Prostate Cancer in Black Men,” is a component of the museum’s Catalyst for Change lecture series and can be streamed online on the museum’s website and their YouTube channel.

According to a press release, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The discussion will feature healthcare professionals, health equity advocates, scientists and prostate cancer survivors who will discuss the present state of the disease within the Black community and the role of early detection, prevention and treatment options in keeping Black men alive.

Panelists on the event include Dr. Duane Loynes, assistant professor of Urban Studies at Rhodes College and associate director of Equity & Culture on the Institute for Health Equity & Community Justice. Dr. Loynes will moderate the discussion, along with panelists: Dr. Walter Rayford, assistant professor within the Department of Preventative Medicine on the University of Tennessee Health Center, Dr. Rayford can be a urologist; Clarence Williamson, co-founder of Man2Man, a prostate cancer awareness organization and a prostate cancer survivor; and Ken Carpenter, founding father of Carpenter Primary Care and a prostate cancer survivor.

Pfizer is a partner within the event in partnership with the museum. Angel Riemer, Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the National Civil Rights Museum on this unique event. It is critical that events like this provide an open forum for all stakeholders to discuss health disparities in prostate cancer. Pfizer works every day to reduce health disparities by leading and investing in a variety of programs, including our support of this initiative. We encourage anyone interested to register for this free, hybrid event and look forward to connecting with all of the panelists next week.”

According to Dr. Russ Wiggington, president of the National Civil Rights Museum, “One of the most glaring disparities in health care today is the unequal impact of prostate cancer on black men. Black men are 70 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime than white men and are twice as likely to die from the disease,” said Dr. Wigginton. “Despite significant advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and health care delivery, racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes persist. More must be done to close the equity gap in health care.”

The event is free, and an in-person reception is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Registration for the event is strongly encouraged and will be done through the museum’s website. Through the Catalyst for Change lecture series, the museum hopes to lift awareness of a number of the most pressing issues affecting Black Americans, in keeping with the museum.