As a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in primary care, I see firsthand how the health of African- Americans in Memphis is shaped by social, economic, and systemic factors. Memphis, a city rich in culture and history, is also a city where health disparities—particularly for African-American communities—are stark. Despite advances in medicine and healthcare delivery, African- Americans in Memphis still face significant barriers to achieving optimal health outcomes.

As a healthcare provider on the front lines, I am continually reminded that these disparities are not just the result of biological differences, but are intricately tied to socio-economic conditions, historical inequities, and the structure of our healthcare system. In this post, I will explore these health disparities, provide insights based on my practice, and offer thoughts on how we can move forward as a community.

The Scope of Health Disparities in Memphis

African-Americans make up approximately 65% of the population in Memphis. However, this majority population experiences some of the highest rates of chronic disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. According to the Shelby County Health Department, African-Americans in Memphis have significantly higher mortality rates from conditions like heart disease and stroke compared to their white counterparts. These health issues are often diagnosed later, managed less effectively, and result in worse outcomes.

Chronic Diseases

Memphis is often ranked among the top U.S. cities for obesity, and within the African-American community, rates of obesity are disproportionately high. Obesity is closely linked to conditions like hypertension and diabetes, both of which are prevalent among African-American patients I see in primary care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African-Americans are 40% more likely to have hypertension and are twice as likely to die from it as non-Hispanic whites.

I routinely encounter patients who present with blood pressure readings well above the target range for hypertension. Often, these individuals have not seen a healthcare provider in years—sometimes due to lack of access, other times due to distrust of the healthcare system. The long-term, unmonitored progression of hypertension contributes to heart disease and stroke, leading causes of death among African-Americans in Memphis.

Diabetes is another pervasive issue. African-Americans are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and in Memphis, complications from this disease—such as kidney failure, amputations, and blindness—are tragically common. In my practice, I work diligently with patients on lifestyle changes, medication management, and diabetes education, but the social determinants of health make long-term control difficult for many.

Mental Health

Mental health disparities among African-Americans in Memphis are equally concerning. African-Americans are less likely to receive treatment for mental health issues, even though they experience similar rates of conditions like depression and anxiety compared to other racial groups. Structural racism, economic disadvantage, and the trauma of living in poverty-stricken neighborhoods contribute to high levels of stress and mental illness.

In my role, I often serve as a first point of contact for patients who are struggling with their mental health. It’s not uncommon for African-American patients to report somatic symptoms—such as headaches, fatigue, or unexplained pain—that are tied to stress or untreated depression. Yet, due to stigma and lack of access to mental health professionals, many patients do not receive the treatment they need.

The Root Causes of Health Disparities

The health disparities in Memphis are not solely the result of individual behaviors. They are rooted in broader social determinants of health—conditions in the environments where people live, learn, work, and play. Many African- Americans in Memphis are, unfortunately,  more likely to live in poverty, experience unemployment, and face food insecurity—all of which contribute to poor health outcomes.

In my experience, the lack of access to healthy foods is a major issue in predominantly African-American neighborhoods. Many of my patients live in food deserts, where fresh fruits and vegetables are hard to come by, and fast-food options dominate. When I talk to patients about managing their diabetes or hypertension, I often hear the same response: “It’s hard to eat healthy when the only grocery store near me doesn’t carry fresh produce.”

Another major barrier is access to healthcare itself. Many African-Americans in Memphis are either uninsured or underinsured. Even those with insurance often face long wait times for appointments or live far from healthcare facilities. This delay in accessing care leads to late diagnoses and complications that could have been prevented with earlier intervention.

Solutions and the Role of Nurse Practitioners

As a Nurse Practitioner, I believe that we are uniquely positioned to address health disparities, particularly in primary care. Our role allows us to form long-term relationships with patients, focus on preventive care, and address not just the symptoms of disease but the root causes as well.

Culturally Competent Care: One of the most important aspects of reducing health disparities is delivering culturally competent care. In my practice, I make it a priority to listen to my patients’ concerns and validate their experiences. Building trust is essential, especially for African Americans who may have a history of mistrust with the healthcare system. This trust allows for better patient-provider communication, which in turn improves adherence to treatment plans.

Community Outreach and Education: I believe that healthcare providers must go beyond the clinic walls. In Memphis, community-based programs are crucial for reaching those who may not regularly access care. As an NP, I participate in health fairs and community education events that focus on preventive care, particularly in African American neighborhoods. These events help to raise awareness about chronic disease management, the importance of regular screenings, and mental health support.

Advocacy for Policy Change: Addressing health disparities requires systemic change. Nurse Practitioners can be powerful advocates for health equity. By pushing for policies that expand Medicaid, increase funding for community health centers, and address food deserts, we can help dismantle the barriers that disproportionately affect African Americans in Memphis.

A Path Forward

The health disparities among African Americans in Memphis are profound, but they are not insurmountable. As a Nurse Practitioner, I see the potential for change every day in my practice. By providing culturally competent care, engaging in community outreach, and advocating for policy changes, we can work together to reduce these disparities.

But this effort requires more than just healthcare providers. It requires collaboration across sectors—education, housing, transportation, and food systems must all work together to create environments that support health. In Memphis, where the challenges are great, the opportunity to create lasting change is even greater.

As I reflect on my role in primary care, I remain hopeful. Hopeful that with sustained effort, we can create a healthier future for African Americans in Memphis, where disparities in health outcomes are a thing of the past, and every patient has an equal opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Health Disparities: African Americans. https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/race-ethnicity/africanamericans/index.html
2. Shelby County Health Department. (2023). Memphis Health Status Report. https://www.shelbytnhealth.org/
3. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2023). The Role of Social Determinants in Health Disparities. https://www.rwjf.org/

Jimarie Nelson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, she has called Memphis home for over a decade. J Jimarie holds an MSN with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Memphis Lowenberg School of Nursing, a BSN from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, and a BA in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University.

Her passions for science, community service, and dance fuel her commitment to helping clients look and feel their best while driving growth and wellness in the community.

 

 

Ida B. Wells-Barnett is recognized throughout history for her late 19th-century antilynching campaign. Her activism—through numerous essays and pamphlets—contributed to a decline in lynchings during her lifetime. Ninety years after her death, President Joe Biden’s administration passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, a federal law that defines lynching as a hate crime. While Wells-Barnett’s laborious efforts eventually bore fruit, we must ask ourselves: at what cost did it take for the U.S. to finally pass a federal law prohibiting lynching? (Tianna Mobley, “Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Anti-lynching and the White House).

I often reflect on the personal and professional sacrifices that Wells-Barnett made in order to speak truthfully about lynching. In this piece, I want to discuss one of the highest prices she paid to report on lynchings in the South: her exile from Memphis, Tennessee. According to her autobiography, diaries, and biographies, Wells-Barnett had no plans to leave Memphis. She decided to return to the city after realizing that staying in Visalia, California, with her aunt would not work out ((Miriam Decosta-Willis, The Memphis Diary of Ida B. Wells: An Intimate Portrait of the Activist as a Young Woman)). At that time, Wells (who would later marry Ferdinand Barnett and become Ida B. Wells-Barnett) found that Visalia lacked the social and political life she was accustomed to in Memphis. As a young Black woman, she knew she would not thrive in Visalia, prompting her return to Memphis ((Ida B. Wells, Crusader for Justice). We can assume that Wells intended to settle down and start a family there. However, after returning to Memphis from a trip to promote her newspaper, The Free Speech, she received devastating news: her best friend, Thomas Moss, had been lynched. Motivated by his murder, Wells embarked on a path that would begin her antilynching activism, fundamentally altering her plans to make Memphis her permanent home (Nathaniel C. Ball, “Memphis and the Lynching at the Curve”).

Wells began this journey by writing an exposé that revealed the true reasons behind the lynchings of Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and William Stewart. This exposé would later transform into one of the most impactful pamphlets of her career, Southern Horrors (Ida B. Wells, The Light of Truth: Writings of an Anti-Lynching Crusader). In the South, Black men were typically lynched on the pretext of having raped white women. Wells’s exposé dismantled this “threadbare lie,” exposing the rape myth narrative surrounding Black men. Her reporting revealed that Southern white men used this narrative as a red herring to obscure their true motivations: to prevent Black men from advancing in economic, political, and social spheres. Many Southern whites were threatened by the rapid gains made by emancipated Black people during Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction, especially those who resented the South’s loss in the Civil War.

Wells’s exposé enraged white Southerners even further. After her article circulated in Memphis, white mobs planned to lynch her. They descended upon the Free Speech office in search of her, but she was away on business (Paula J. Giddings, Ida: A Sword Among Lions: Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching). They destroyed her office and threatened to lynch her upon her return. As a result, Wells’s career in Memphis ended, along with her dreams of a permanent settlement there. Yet, despite this setback, Wells bravely continued her fight against lynching by traveling to Britain for her antilynching crusade tour, which proved to be a success. She also found love with Ferdinand Barnett in 1895, and together they started a family in Chicago, Illinois, where they were well-respected politically and socially.

However, we should contemplate the “what ifs” of Wells staying in Memphis. When Southern Blacks like Wells were exiled for exposing racial violence, we need to consider what Memphis truly lost. While it is important to commemorate the impact that Memphis had on Wells, we should also ponder the further impact she might have had if she could have remained there. Instead of Wells’s family being based in Chicago, what if they had established roots in Memphis? Would there have been an Ida B. Wells Homes? What about Wells’s Black Women’s Clubs? Instead of the Ida B. Wells Homes being demolished in the early 2000s, could they have survived in Memphis? Perhaps the Ida B. Wells Woman’s Club and the Alpha Suffrage Club would have thrived in Memphis due to the deep Black Southern roots in the city.

I conclude with this thought: the past is immutable; we cannot change it. Because of her exile from Memphis, Wells became even more motivated to continue her social justice activism, which included public writing, speaking, and traveling. My aim is to highlight the imaginative possibilities of what could have been had Wells stayed in Memphis, while also addressing a larger reality. This reality is that Wells-Barnett and many other Black women sacrificed immensely for social change. We can admire their bravery, but we must also acknowledge the significant loss represented by the “what ifs.” I urge us to examine history not only through the lens of Black women’s courage but also through their sacrifices for the places and communities they cherished—motivated by a belief in a greater purpose: the freedom of Black people. I encourage us to consider how we can develop strategies to protect Black women without forcing them to abandon the places, spaces, and people they love, while still fighting for the advancement of their communities.

Sophia Muriel Flemming M.A.
PhD Candidate, University of Georgia

Sophia Flemming is a PhD candidate in Communication Studies with an emphasis on rhetorical studies. Generally, Flemming studies African American public address, specifically focusing on Black feminist and Womanist rhetorics from the 18th to the 21st centuries. Her research examines the topics Black women communicate about, their communication styles, how voice manifests in their experiences and epistemologies, how they interact and engage within and outside their communities, and, most importantly, how they communicate interpersonally and in public spaces.