This year we are returning to a familiar theme, the state of our health. All
year there have been many articles written about the poor state of African
American Women’s Health.
A headline in the Michigan Chronicle 9/23 screamed, “Cancer is on the rampage,
Blacks high on the list.” Other articles talk about the aggressive types of
cancer, which are attacking young, African American Women and the high fatality
rates of these cancers.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters sponsored a bill HR 1943 to target AIDS in prisons
that passed the House of Representative by voice vote on 9/25 and has been
referred to the Senate. She stated “You would think after 25 years and all the
education that we have tried to do and all the literature that has been written,
that everyone would know
everything that they need to know about HIV and AIDS,” She continued. “But it is
not true and one of the things that we had to consider was why there was an
increase in HIV and AIDS with women, particularly minority women. And then we
had taken a look at
where it may come from and though we don’t have empirical data, we do think that
we are on the right track in helping to stem this tide because we do think that
some of these infections are coming from those who may have been incarcerated.”
A 2005 report from the Centers for Disease Control stated that 11% of all the
new AIDS cases are being found in people over the age of 50 and the impact is
particularly profound among people of color. Blacks make up 68% of HIV/AIDS case
in Detroit and the statistics for many urban areas are just as dismal.
We get failing marks when it comes to our cardiovascular health, important in
the prevention of diabetes, heart attack, stroke and other related diseases.
Poor diet, lack of exercise, weight gain, and smoking are contributors to the
poor state of our cardiovascular health. 3.2 million African Americans have
diabetes and one-third of them
do not know they have it putting them at risk for serious complications and
possibly even death.
Nominations for the Addie Wyatt Award are open now and will remain open until
March
31. A nominating form will be included in the Convention Call. Awards luncheon
tickets will be sold with your convention registration.
Chapter award nominations are open and will remain open until May 1, 2008.
We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis.
Anita Patterson, Chairperson
CBTU National Women’s Committee
Welcome to the website of CBTU, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. CBTU is the fiercely independent voice of Black Workers within the Trade Union Movement.
2008 Convention
Pre-Registration
2008 Convention Instruction Checklist
2008 National Women's Conference
2008 Youth Convention Registration Form