5th Annual Black Men’s Wellness Day Seeks To Save Black Men’s Health

Kenny R. Hampton, the president of the African American Male Wellness Agency, said in the press release that he hopes to spur a movement that creates health equity and empowerment for Black men.

The African American Male Wellness Agency published a press release on Aug. 1 announcing that it will hold its 5th Annual Black Men’s Wellness Day on Sept. 14, 2024, on the campus of Morehouse College.

According to The Atlanta Voice, the free event is aimed at getting Black men to participate in onsite health screenings that measure various vital signs such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, HIV/STD/STI status, prostate cancer, and more.

Keith Dobbins, the Atlanta coordinator for the African American Male Wellness Agency, told the outlet that the event is about saving Black men’s lives.

(Photo: Courtesy of African American Male Wellness Agency)

“We do this every year to save the lives of Black men,” Dobbins said. “If you save a Black man’s life, you save his family. When you save the family, you save the community. And that’s what we’re all about, affecting massive change through the health of Black men.”

According to the press release, Greg Clay, the City of Atlanta’s executive director with the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, will serve as the Honorary Chair at the event. Clay indicated his excitement, saying, “I am extremely excited to lead this annual effort here in Atlanta, as we work to impact health disparities, along with other issues, in my role with the city on a daily basis,” Clay said. “This proactive movement is a true depiction of Atlanta’s Group Project, working together to fight our community’s biggest challenges facing Black men.”

Kenny R. Hampton, the president of the African American Male Wellness Agency, said in the press release that he hopes to spur a movement that creates health equity and empowerment for Black men.

“Black Men’s Wellness Day in Atlanta is more than just an event–it’s a movement toward health equity and empowerment for African American men,” Hampton said. “By addressing the health disparities that disproportionately affect our community, we are not only improving individual lives but also strengthening families and communities. Our mission is to provide the tools and resources necessary for Black men to lead healthier, longer lives, and this event is crucial to making that vision a reality.”

The event’s sponsors include Johnson & Johnson, CareSource, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, Kroger Delivery, Care Access, and Inside Edge Consulting.

According to the release, since 2004, the group Hampton presides over has produced or held a 5K walk and run in more than 15 cities, which it uses as an awareness campaign to illuminate the health disparities Black men specifically face. It has been the work of the organization over the last 20 years to help save the lives of Black men, close the health disparity gap, and help Black men survive preventable diseases.