Jamal Bowman, a former representative from New York, recently made headlines again after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor related to pulling a fire alarm in the Capitol. He faced a $1,000 fine and was subsequently ousted from his next Democratic primary.
Last week, Bowman participated as a panelist on MSNBC, where he discussed health disparities in the Black community. He attributed high rates of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes to the stress experienced from racial slurs, both directly and indirectly encountered on a daily basis.
It’s been a tough week for the Black community. Whoopi Goldberg from ABC’s The View suggested that living in Iran might be preferable for Black Americans. She stated, “It’s not good for anyone to kill someone for a difference. That’s not good.” In response, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin pointed out the vast differences between life in the U.S. in 2025 and life in Iran, to which Goldberg responded, “If you’re Black.”
This statement revealingly highlights a certain level of naivety on Goldberg’s part. The Human Freedom Index, a research project by the Cato Institute and the Fraser Institute, consistently ranks Iran among the most oppressive nations globally, primarily due to its civil and personal security issues.
Bowman’s claims raise questions. Do the effects of being called racial slurs truly lead to more significant health issues such as heart disease and diabetes? When considering last instances of someone directing a slur towards him, when was that? Besides music or comedy, it’s difficult to pinpoint such situations. How do people encounter these terms “indirectly”? Is it similar to how second-hand smoke operates? If someone uses a racial slur within a couple of blocks, does that suddenly equate to historic discrimination and violence? Where exactly do people experience this language, in settings like work, church, or even grocery stores?
On diabetes, the National Institutes of Health have noted various biological risk factors contributing to its prevalence in Black Americans. These include elements like body mass index and blood pressure. While some researchers point to issues like “systematic racism” affecting food access, others, like Thomas Sowell, argue that the political left claims low-income individuals can’t afford healthy foods, driving them to unhealthy options instead. This raises questions about how “systemic racism” impacts health improvements, especially as societal racism seems less overt than in the past.
Concerning cancer, the Cleveland Clinic states that while cancer is often a genetic disorder, its occurrence is influenced by gene management changes. The National Cancer Institute has also suggested chronic stress contributes to various health issues, though its direct relationship with cancer remains unclear.
Dr. Bowman seems determined to frame Black individuals as perpetual victims of oppression, a narrative that continues to circulate.
