C.O.N. Spiracy
Perhaps I have been reading too much Boondocks lately, but I would like to present, for your approval, or whatever, my first ever conspiracy theory...
Health and the Black community.
The other day, I posted a blog about my run in with the personal trainer, and my 04 Veronica sent me an email ranting and raving about the injustice of the entire situation and it really got me to thinking. Here is a sample of her thoughts: “the whole fitness world is aimed at white ppl... who has 1700 extra dollars to pay someone else to work out??? 300 dollars up front?!!! even her baller on a budget hook up is too much...!!! I hate that everything these days are for the privileged... you want to lose weight feel great, pay 1700!??!? that is bullshit! Pay a personal trainer; buy a nutritionist, only 1 million dollars!?!?! whatever!!!!???I'm glad you have someone to help you out........ the system is corrupt, it is a conspiracy!!! keep blacks and browns unhealthy.... and keep whites looking great.... it shouldn't take so much money to be healthy! that sound like paying $10 for a bottle of tap water... just down right stupid!? “
Now, I live and work in the city of Berkeley. As a whole, the city is by means a privileged area, but Berkeley can be considered a pretty mixed city, but personally, I am leaning toward a more white city then anything else. Of course this does not include the student population who are for the most part temporary residents, and then there is Oakland, which is much intermixed, but I am talking about the home owners and tax payers of the city, Berkeley is pretty white. In the city of Berkeley, and I am strictly talking borders, there are let’s say 14 types of fast food restaurants and In the city of Oakland, there are14 types of fast food restaurants. The fast food in Berkeley consists of restaurants the feature organic meals, fast Thai food, fast Indian food, sandwiches, fresh fruit smoothies, and One Jack in the box, one Popeye’s (that the neighborhood is trying to shut down for the record,), a Taco Bell that was shut down and replaced with a Thai Noodle place, and one McDonalds...(Yes one if you can believe it...), whereas in the city of Oakland, fast food consists over 15 McDonalds Restaurants, 7 Taco Bells, 8 Burger Kings, 5 Jack in the Boxes and the list just goes on. In Berkeley, the grocery stores consist of 2 Safeway’s, a whole Foods, Berkeley Bowl, which is totally organic, healthy and ignorantly expensive, where as Oakland, has a Pack and Save, and Safeway. When you Google Oakland and Grocery stores, more Liquor stores come up then groceries, so I ask you what is the message? I agree with my 04. Health and Fitness is geared toward privileged people. Even the advertisements for these fast food places are geared toward the more urban crowd. If I see one more white boy with a hat turned back and sagging rapping about a McDonalds hamburger, I’m going to throw something! I know for a fact that the city of Berkeley has made a conscious effort to eliminate fast food, but I firmly believe that even if that effort had not been made, there still would not be an overrunning of fast food restaurants in this city. People say that Black folks just don’t like to eat healthy. I don’t believe that is the case. I feel that with all of the health problems that plague the black family, if Black folks were given the same opportunities and conveniences to eat healthy, they would take it. If the healthier options were just as affordable as the not so healthy options, I believe that Black folks would take the former. Think about it, if I have 50 dollars to buy groceries for my family for the week, and I know that I go to Whole Foods, 25 of that will go to the entrance fee, and the other 25 will buy me a box of organic cereal and an orange, but if I take that same 50 dollars to pack n save, I can get all of the sugar puffs, frozen French fries, and hamburger meat we will need to make it until the next check. Okay slight exaggeration, but you get my drift. If personal trainers were included in the gym memberships, I firmly believe that there would be a huge change in the issue of Black health.
Thus, my theory is that they are trying to kill us off. Of course, Black and Brown folks, you can have all of the dollar menus you can stand, because we want to make sure you save your money and still get to eat. You can walk down the cookie and chip aisle at your grocery store and see all of your favorite brands two for one, but the one bag of whole wheat pasta is almost 5 dollars. But whole wheat pasta? You don’t want to eat that anyway, so just focus on the processed, frozen treats that will get you through the hard times, and maybe you can throw some orange juice in the mix that is 90 percent sugar and 10 percent juice, and frozen French fries so that your kids will get all of the fruits and vegetables they need. And of course, we know that health is an issue, so if you need to eat out, we are offering plenty of salad options, and don’t worry about the fact that there are 1000 grams of sodium in it, just drink up on that bottle of water and you’ll be fine! Don’t even worry about it. And to let you know who cool it is, we will create advertisements that will let you know just how cool Black and Brown people will be if they eat our food. If you walk for 20 minutes a couple of times a week, and keep eating our salads, you’ll be able to drop the weight in no time.
As a people we need to start taking more responsibility for ourselves. In my family alone, I have obesity, high blood pressure, breast cancer, diabetes, the list goes on, and it’s not pretty. I am making an effort to make changes in my life because it is necessary. Health wise, I’m great, but for how long. I haven’t had fast food in a long time, mostly because it grosses me out, but mainly because it is terrible for you. Look at the numbers, and “nutritional’ information of the food you’re eating. Check the facts, and it’s pretty scary. We say that its economics, and on one level, it is, but we really need to start making an effort to change the game. We can be united on so many different issues, but why not our health? Yes, health and fitness is geared toward the privileged but what can we do to make it fit our budget? There are plenty of places to walk to get exercise. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, drink water instead of soda, eat grapes instead of ice cream, little things. With AIDS killing us, us killing us, and lack of concern for our health, I’m afraid of where Black America will be in the coming years. Its time to stop making excuses and start making choices. Who’s with me?
