For decades, the United States has witnessed various social, economic and health disparities among minority groups and their communities. Social, economic and health disparities have been the underlying issues that have resulted in various outcomes, including, accessible resources for health and food, social equality, employment, education, medical needs and life-span. It is no secret that there a pattern of minority groups reside in low income neighborhoods, with limited grocery stores, dozens of fast food restaurants, and miles away from a decent medical facility. These neighborhoods and communities are located in inconvenient locations and limited resources for people to have an opportunity to live a healthy and affordable lifestyle. To improve their health and well-being in a positive way. To live a healthy lifestyle, can be physical, internal or mental. To obtain this is far more complex for many minority groups due to the disparities that are possessed onto and limit their communities.
Shortly after my undergrad, I worked with a couple of different organizations in Oakland, California where majority of my work was centered in East Oakland. I was able to witness disparities and lack of resources and accessibility that residents suffered. I worked with local youth and families, political asylums, African and Middle Easterners refugees in East Oakland. Cases varied tremendously based on needs and background, and perspectives of how this community was perceived. Historically, East Oakland is made up of majority African American/Black and Latino populations, and with resettlements of other populations like Pacific Islanders, Africans and Middle Easterners today.
It was interesting to grasp on a variety of perspectives of East Oakland’s own community viewed itself when it came to social, economic and health disparities. There was the local individuals and family who learned to accept its community’s status and circumstances. Some youth were eager to make a change and help better their community by advocating for health equality. Newly resettled refugees felt betrayed by the U.S., coming to a county believing they will help provide them a healthy way of life. Like many urban cities and impoverished communities, East Oakland has suffered tremendously of social and health disparities on multiple levels. Sadly, it has a significantly higher rate of common health conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Almost 35% of the population in this community is considered at fair or poor health standards.
For the purpose of this topic, it is important to reflect on the growth of Oakland as whole and how much the city has changed in the last 5 years due to its trends of gentrification and expansion – East Oakland is only a fraction of the social, economic and health disparities that’s been suffering from result of it This is a pattern that we have witnessed in recent years across multiple metropolitan urban cities, including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, Houston, Miami, etc.
If one were to visit North Central Oakland, you will see beautiful homes, clean streets, an accessible Whole Food Market, organic and fresh produce at the grocery stores, variety of cafes and restaurants and accessible medical facility and hospitals. Neighborhoods in West and East Oakland tend to be distant from the same accessible resources and establishments. Rather than 4 out of 5 stars sit down restaurants, street corners are filled with fast food chains and grocers with spoiled and limited produce, meats and canned/boxed foods.
Like for many other communities, providing a board analysis of Oakland’s social, economic and health disparities is only a stepping stone into its current reality. The combination of Oakland’s impoverished neighborhoods and an increase of gentrification and lack of resources for its local residents have resulted in lack of hope and stability to have a healthy lifestyle or foundation to live healthy.
What can we help strengthen our community and promote a healthy lifestyle for Oakland residents and alike? With established educations platforms for health and wellness, efficient and adequate medical institutions and resources and ensuring all neighborhoods have accessible, fresh foods and produce are a few ideas. Promoting home cooking and organic ways of preparing foods is very important to consider for many families. Implementing exercise, sports or any kind of physical activity in one’s daily routine. Becoming involved in the community through social events or networking to promote a friendly and healthy community. Living a healthy, accessible and positive community are elements to preventing disparities and advocating for a sustainable and rich future for a community like Oakland and many others.
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