Page 2 The Skanner December 7, 2016
Challenging People to Shape
a Better Future Now
Bernie Foster
Founder/Publisher
Bobbie Dore Foster
Executive Editor
Jerry Foster
Advertising Manager
Christen McCurdy
News Editor
Patricia Irvin
Graphic Designer
Arashi Young
Reporter
Monica J. Foster
Seattle Office Coordinator
Susan Fried
Photographer
2016
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Opinion
Despite Progress, Colorectal Cancer Claims
F
ew diseases cause as
much pain and suffer-
ing as cancer. While
survivors, activists, pol-
icymakers and healthcare
professionals have been suc-
cessful in raising awareness
for some types of cancer,
others are not as high profile.
Among them: colorectal can-
cer, the second leading cause
of cancer-related deaths
among men and women com-
bined in the U.S. Even less
widely known is the fact that
African Americans have the
highest incidence and mortal-
ity rates for colorectal cancer.
The disparities are impossi-
ble to ignore. African Amer-
icans are about 25 percent
more likely than Whites to
be diagnosed with this form
of cancer, and about 50 per-
cent more likely to die from it.
This is particularly troubling
when considering that, in
many cases, colorectal cancer
can be prevented and is high-
ly treatable, if it’s detected
early, according to the Amer-
ican Cancer Society.
While we’re still work-
ing to understand why Af-
rican-Americans are more
susceptible to this type of
cancer, one of the causes of
the disparity in mortality is
that minorities lag behind in
screening for colorectal can-
cer. Researchers at the Uni-
versity of Texas have shown
that African-Americans are
less likely than White pa-
tients to receive a colonosco-
py — the most common form
Patricia A.
Maryland,
Dr.PH
NNPA
Columnist
of colorectal cancer screen-
ing — even when controlling
for health insurance coverage
and access to quality health-
care providers.
Both patients and providers
bear some responsibility for
the lower rates of colorectal
cancer screening among Af-
“
cated. The invasiveness of the
procedure, coupled with fears
of pain, often causes African
American patients to rule it
out as a preventive measure.
What’s more, a lack of access
to a physician they trust leads
many members of the African
American community to de-
lay this important procedure
until it’s too late.
In addition, healthcare pro-
viders sometimes contribute
to the low colorectal cancer
screening rates among Afri-
can Americans. A recommen-
dation from a physician has
been shown to increase the
There’s also a need for a broader
conversation about increased risk
and the need for prompt, diligent
colorectal cancer screening in the
African-American community
rican-Americans. On the pa-
tient side, African-Americans
may not know that they are at
a heightened risk of experi-
encing colorectal cancer ear-
lier than other groups. In the
Black community, the share
of colorectal cancer cases that
occur before the generally
recommended screening age
of 50 is almost twice as high
as among Whites. That’s why
experts advise African Amer-
icans to begin screening at
age 45, five years earlier than
other groups.
But encouraging early and
proactive screening is compli-
likelihood that a patient will
get a colonoscopy, but accord-
ing to the American College
of Gastroenterology, African
Americans are roughly one-
third less likely than Whites
to get such a recommenda-
tion.
These racial and ethnic dis-
parities illustrate the need
for a patient-centered, cultur-
ally competent approach to
healthcare. A broad range of
factors determine a person’s
risk of developing colorectal
cancer. Genetics, family histo-
ry, personal medical history,
diet, weight and physical ac-
tivity all can have an impact.
That’s why healthcare pro-
viders must treat each pa-
tient in a way that takes into
account all of the influences
on their health. This includes
their race and ethnicity,
which in the case of colorectal
cancer is a critical factor in
determining whether a phy-
sician should recommend a
colonoscopy, when a patient’s
screening should start and
concerns a doctor should ad-
dress about the procedure.
Training healthcare pro-
fessionals to understand the
unique colorectal cancer risks
of African Americans, as well
as the unease with which
many view colonoscopies, is
an important step toward in-
creasing screening rates and
catching more cases in their
early stages. There’s also a
need for a broader conversa-
tion about increased risk and
the need for prompt, diligent
colorectal cancer screening
in the community.
Fortunately, incidence and
mortality rates for colorec-
tal cancer have been on the
decline among both Afri-
can-Americans and other ra-
cial groups across the board,
but substantial gaps in health
outcomes remain. Health-
care providers and the Afri-
can-American
community
must work together to ensure
that all patients have and take
advantage of the opportuni-
ty to access a colonoscopy or
other screening procedure
that could save their life.
Facebook’s “Ethnic Affinities” Is Digital Racism
R
acism is a malignant,
powerful, and harm-
ful reality for millions
of persons of color
throughout the world. Here,
inside the United States, rac-
ism is institutionalized and
we have the evidence that this
dreadful, racially discrimi-
natory system of oppression
now has been digitized thanks
to Facebook.
We must oppose all forms,
nuances, and modes of rac-
ism. I am defining “digital
racism” as the deliberate and
systematic exclusion and dis-
crimination of people from
any Internet access, benefit
or policy-making procedure
based on race, color, ethnicity,
or any other social or cultural
factor.
I know when this is read,
some of you will be shocked
while others will be in some
form of denial. Such was the
case when I first coined the
term “environmental racism”
over 30 years ago. But the
truth is the truth. And the
truth is therapeutic.
Racial and ethnic cleaning
at Facebook is the manifesta-
tion of digital racism on one
of the most powerful social
advertisers to exclude spe-
Benjamin F. cific racial and ethnic groups
Chavis, Jr.
when placing housing adver-
NNPA
President
and CEO
media platforms in the world.
The National Newspaper Pub-
lishers Association (NNPA)
is opposed to racial and eth-
nic discrimination. We are
alarmed and we resolutely
“
tising,” stated the CBC.
The CBC letter was signed
by Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.),
Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.),
Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), and
G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C., the
Chairman of the CBC. Their
joint statement concluded,
“This is in direct violation of
the Fair Housing Act of 1968,
and it is our strong desire to
see Facebook address this is-
sue immedi-
ately.”
The
Fair
Housing Act
of 1968 says
it is illegal “to
make, print,
publish, or cause to be made,
printed, or published any
notice, statement, or adver-
tisement, with respect to the
sale or rental of a dwelling
that indicates any preference,
limitation, or discrimination
based on race, color, religion,
sex, handicap, familial status,
or national origin” (42 U.S.C.
§ 3604). The enactment of the
Fair Housing Act of 1968 was
a milestone accomplishment
of the Civil Rights Movement.
The online and digital
worlds should not be
permissive of racism
join with the Congressional
Black Caucus (CBC) in de-
manding that Facebook stop
engaging in racially discrim-
inatory practices.
Earlier this month, the CBC
sent a letter to Mark Zucker-
berg, CEO of Facebook, con-
cerning this issue.
“We are writing to express
our deep concerns with re-
ports that Facebook’s “Ethnic
Affinities” advertising cus-
tomization feature allows for
“By allowing online adver-
tisers to promote or market
a community or home for
the purpose of sale to select
an ‘ethnic affinity’ as part of
their advertising campaign,
Facebook is complicit in pro-
moting restrictive housing
practices,” the CBC letter stat-
ed. This is clearly a violation
of the law.
The NNPA agrees with the
CBC. This practice must be
stopped immediately.
Today, we all should re-
main vigilant and committed
to stand up and speak out
against all instances of racial
and ethnic discrimination.
Facebook needs to right this
wrong. The online and digital
worlds should not be permis-
sive of racism.
With all the technological
advances to hopefully en-
sure that the quality of life
of all people will ultimately
be enhanced in the U.S. and
throughout the world, we
must strive to identify, call
out and stop racism wherev-
er it may arise. Therefore, we
call upon Facebook to stop its
digital racism and its “Ethnic
Affinities”
discriminatory
program.