B. Lorenzo Buckinchere
May 11, 2025
Have you noticed racial disparities pertaining to life expectancy among males? Does it seem like black men in the United States, or the west in general, typically do not live long compared to other races of men, or even their female counterparts?
Well it is not just a feeling. Statistics prove that Black men in the United States live an average of 69 years compared to 75 years for White men, and 82 years for Asian men.
Only Native Americans have a lower life expectancy with an average of 63 years. But what are some of the factors that contribute to a disparity of life expectancy among the races?
Speaking specifically to my brothers, how many of you remember seeing your fathers and uncles stressing over bills and rent while growing up? Then to add to that, there are TV tropes that perpetuate that stereotype within the context of popular culture. Most notably James Evans (John Amos) from “Good Times,” always stressing over the light bill and the goddamned rent.
That sort of stress on a continual basis can lead to several ailments such as cancer, morbid obesity and hypertension. In addition to that, men tend to cope with stress by drinking, smoking and eating unhealthy foods (Brooklyn dollar slices I’m looking at you), or whatever else they can afford that further exacerbates these ailments within our bodies.
Another factor at play is the tendency to have multiple children by multiple women that often stems from teenage peer pressure. This also adds to stress that bachelors have the luxury of avoiding, and by time the four and the zero is looking right back at us, we are already experiencing several avoidable complications that are disproportionate in comparison to men of other races.
As a Black man, I spent my early twenties living in Brooklyn where I witnessed many of these unadvisable life choices in full effect. As a Jamaican, I have witnessed more or less the same kind of life choices that influenced much of my early life (womanizing and rum drinking), but with the added detail of having access to some of the rarest and most exotic botanical blessings on the face of the earth.
No one who lives on an island surrounded by palm trees where it’s always summer should be dying from cancer and heart disease, nor should they suffer from depression.
We grow ackee and breadfruit. Our seafood is freshly sourced from some of the most bountiful rivers on earth, and we make quite literally everything from scratch. We blend a nice batch of carrot juice to have with our rice and peas on a Sunday evening.
We truly are the land of wood and water. So then what gives? Are we choosing to ignore our botanical blessings? Or do we take it for granted until the moment we get on the plane and all that good stuff goes away?
How long has Rastafari been preaching that Ital is vital? How long have they been burning out babylon pork, and people used to scorn them and cut off their dreadlocks? Although I am not a Rastafarian, I do respect a lot of what they say, and I take the good from the bad.
Not everyone can be a Rastafarian, but every Black man can embrace softness. We have the kind of capitalism in America that allows us the privilege to create several passive income streams that lead to intergenerational wealth.
The same capitalism that allows your landlord to raise the rent while your boss strategically cuts your hours, also allows you to register the trademark and patent for all your creative endeavors while enjoying the rights to said work for the entire duration of your life plus seventy years, so then do exactly that.
What we need is a soft wife, a soft life, and soft work that feels more rewarding than punishing. Soft life IS the answer to our health and lifestyle disparity. A little wine every once in a blue, nothing excessive. Fresh, healthy meals made from scratch, and with love.
Refreshing, Jazz infused Monday mornings filled with sunshine, coffee and long walks along the coastline. We already have enough opposition from the world, the last thing we need now is internal opposition.
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