Juneteenth, Advocacy, and the Power of Progress

When I think about Juneteenth, I think about more than a moment in history. I think about what it took to get there.

Juneteenth is a reminder that progress often comes because people are willing to speak up, advocate, and push for change. Throughout history, Black Americans have worked to create opportunities, remove barriers, and fight for equal access in areas like education, housing, voting rights, employment, and healthcare.

That same spirit of advocacy continues today.

In healthcare, advocacy has helped shine a light on disparities that have impacted Black communities for generations. It has helped raise awareness, expand access to care, increase representation in research, and create conversations that might not have happened otherwise.

Meaningful progress in cancer outcomes for Black Americans

While challenges remain, there has also been meaningful progress.

Recent reports show that cancer death rates among Black men have declined by nearly 50% since 1991, while cancer death rates among Black women have declined by more than 30%. Those numbers represent lives saved, families kept together, and communities strengthened. It is also proof that advocacy, awareness, research, and access to care make a difference.

But that progress didn't happen by accident.

It happened because patients shared their stories. Researchers asked important questions. Community leaders brought information into neighborhoods. Faith organizations opened their doors. Advocates raised their voices. Healthcare professionals worked to better understand and address disparities. Together, those efforts helped move us forward.

Continuing the work of advocacy

At the same time, the work is not finished.

Black Americans continue to experience some of the highest cancer death rates and shortest survival rates for many cancers. Black women are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than White women, despite having similar rates of diagnosis. Black men are also significantly more likely to die from prostate cancer than men from other racial and ethnic groups.

These statistics remind us that progress and disparities can exist at the same time.

As a patient advocate, I've learned that advocacy doesn't always look the way people think it does. Most people picture standing before lawmakers or speaking at large events. Those things matter, but advocacy can also happen in everyday moments.

Sometimes advocacy is encouraging someone to get a second opinion. Sometimes it's helping a newly diagnosed patient understand their options. Sometimes it's sharing your story so another person feels less alone. Sometimes it's participating in research so future patients have better treatment options and outcomes. Sometimes it's simply asking questions and making sure your voice is heard. Those actions may seem small, but they have an impact.

Over the years, I've seen how one conversation can change a patient's path. I've seen people become more confident in their healthcare decisions because someone took the time to share information, offer support, or help them understand what questions to ask. That's advocacy, too.

The same kind of advocacy that has helped improve cancer outcomes over time is the advocacy that continues to help patients today. It turns awareness into action. It helps people find answers. It creates opportunities for better care and better outcomes.

As we recognize Juneteenth, I'm reminded that many of the opportunities we have today exist because someone before us was willing to speak up and advocate for change.

The same is true in healthcare. The progress we've seen in cancer outcomes among Black Americans shows what is possible when communities, advocates, researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients work together. At the same time, ongoing disparities remind us that the work is not finished.

Advocacy helped create progress in the past, and it will continue to play an important role in shaping the future.

Whether you're sharing your story, supporting another patient, participating in research, or simply helping someone find reliable information, your voice matters. Because behind every statistic is a person. And every person deserves the opportunity to make informed decisions, access quality care, and live the healthiest life possible.

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