African-American abolitionist, journalist, physician and writer, Martin Delany, was a member of St. Cyprian Alpha Lodge #13 of the 7th Masonic District and before Rap came along there was something called “Toast” that Black men did back in the day, life saving health information and many more Black History facts and information like these were shared during the EACH ONE TEACH ONE event last month at the Prince Hall Temple in Wilkinsburg.
Hosted by the Byrdie E. Crunkleton Memorial Court, No. 3—Heroines of Jericho, it was an occasion to do more than recognize important historical facts about African-American contributions to this country. It was also to bring awareness of health issues that Blacks and older Americans face every day. Especially older Black Americans.
Activities included a presentation about “The Affects of Kidney Disease” within the African-American population presented by Cherie Peters, program manager from the National Kidney Foundation Serving the Alleghenies.
In her talk she shared the important signs of kidney failure and that kidney disease is treatable. She stressed the importance of taking the simple tests available to detect early signs of the disease, explaining that getting an early handle on this problem was crucial because the regrettable consequence of kidney damage is ending up on dialysis and or the need for a kidney transplant; neither of which is a desirable situation to be in.
Once again African-Americans suffer disproportionately from end stage kidney disease not unlike heart disease and certain cancers. Due to the amount of high blood pressure and heart disease within the Black race, they are automatically placed in front of the line for kidney failure. According to the National Kidney Foundation web site, Blacks need to be aware of the following information:
A.) African-Americans suffer from end stage Renal Disease disproportionately. The incidence of kidney failure per million populations is 998 in African-Americans, compared with 273 in White Americans. B.) African-Americans constitute about 29 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the U.S. but only about 14 percent of the overall U.S. population. C.) The incident rate of diabetic end stage kidney failure has increased steadily among African-Americans.
Additionally, Blacks also develop kidney failure at an earlier age than White Americans. The average age for Blacks at the start of treatment for kidney failure is 56, compared with 66 in White Americans. These were just some of the details shared by Peters at this event.
Other speakers included representatives from the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh. They gave an informative presentation on the types of housing discrimination they investigate, the methods they use, and recourse that people have if they feel they’ve been discriminated against because of race or age. This organization serves a vital purpose in Pittsburgh, because their web page shows that an Urban Institute Report has given Pittsburgh a “failing grade” for its pervasive racial disparities in not only housing, but in a broad range of areas from income to homeownership rates to school testing scores. Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh offices are located in the Strip District. They have a number of volunteer opportunities. One such opportunity is to be a “tester” applicant. This is where they send people out to a location that has advertised vacancy space, along with a White counterpart, just to see how the management responds to both potential tenants.
Along with the health information and information on how to fight unfair housing practices in Pittsburgh, the event also provided the audience with an excerpt from a one man show presentation by local actor, writer, director Wali Jamal.
The story of Martin Delany is an expansive one. Researched, written and directed by Jamal, it presented the life of an African-American man who was an abolitionist, journalist, physician, and writer, and arguably the first proponent of American Black Nationalism. He was also was one of the first three Blacks admitted to Harvard Medical School; and became the first Black field officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War. As a trained physician, he treated patients during the cholera epidemics of 1833 and 1854 in Pittsburgh, when many doctors and residents fled the city.
Additionally, Delany was also a member of St. Cyprian Alpha Lodge #13 of the 7th Masonic District. The excerpt covered a portion of an argument Delany was having with a White Masonic order who were disputing the right of Black men to become Masons.
According to Daughter Rosalie Jones Moore, Most Ancient Matron of the Heroines of Jericho, providing the community with information they don’t usually get was their main goal. She says, “In all of our events we want to respond to the needs of our community by sharing information that will positively impact their lives.”