Memphis in 20/20

I'm not certain whether I am more ashamed or shocked to be from Memphis right now. ABC News' 20/20 just featured a story on the astronomical infant death rate in Memphis, a infant mortality rate that rivals developing nations. Am I surprised? Certainly not. I am saddened, however. I've long told people about the troubles in Memphis. Sadly, many of those to whom I've spoken live there. Many of my white acquaintances are deeply ignorant of the perils that exist 20 miles from their pristine neighborhoods in Germantown and Collierville. When I would tell them that Memphis is the most polarized city I've ever seen, I am met with shock and awe. "Surely, you must be mistaken", they say. It is laughable really. Deep in their psyche, they are well aware of the poverty and despair, but because the issues that come with poverty do not reach their homes, they do not care. As the feature divulged, Memphis' crime rate is second only to Detroit. However, the wealthy suburb of Germantown has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. Further, DeSoto County, MS, also a major suburb to Memphis has an extremely low crime rate as well. A murder in Olive Branch, MS, which is located in DeSoto County, is the thud heard around the world.

I am quite perturbed that the feature did not discuss breastfeeding as a means of reducing infant mortality. That simple act alone would reduce infant mortality significantly according to WHO. Nonetheless, much of the problem in Memphis begins far before birth, even before pregnancy. Health literacy in Memphis and many other southern cities is nearly non-existent. The young woman, Precious, who is the primary figure of the feature, is a prime example. It seems that the powers that be like Memphis this way. They sorry excuse for a mayor, Willie Herenton, didn't even dignify the story with a letter or his cratered face. His representative, Sara Lewis, did all to shift responsibility from city government in addressing this issue. This is an utter embarrassment. This is nothing new. At my junior high school, an optional school I should add (i.e. one with programs for exceptional students), there were several young ladies who had given birth or had abortions before the ninth grade. Of the 12 girls with whom I used to hang, five were mothers by the tenth grade. Only one of them had a father in the household. That is certainly part of the problem. Much of it stems from a greater social problem which is perpetuated by government and citizens. Blacks are just as culpable as whites in this situation. Many well to do blacks abandoned the inner city and never looked back, this is especially common among those who attended the inner city schools and benefited greatly from those experiences. Nonetheless, as they prospered, they somehow developed the concept that their children were too good to sit in a classroom with someone who is poor or worse, poor and black. Ultimately, however, each parent is responsible for his/her own child/children.

There is one other entity, nevertheless, which should bear the brunt of criticism in Memphis--the black church. There literally is a church on every corner in Memphis. Memphis is home to the freakish COGIC (Church of God in Christ). I was proud, as I was reared in the Presbyterian tradition, to see Hope Presbyterian take a stand in addressing the infant mortality rate. I have attended this church and it is indeed a church in the truest regard. The black churches in Memphis should be brought up on charges of grand larceny. Where was Bountiful Blessings? The former pastor's widow receives $27,000/month from the congregation, yet, they do nothing to address the infant mortality rate for their very members. Greater Imani, New Direction, World Overcomers, Mississippi Blvd, New Salem---these are all large churches receiving exorbitant "tithes" and yet do very little if anything to really address these major issues. Hope is not the only white church which has established a base in impoverished communities. There is another white church in Memphis, Christ United Methodist, which has encouraged its members to purchase and move into houses in the Binghampton community as a means of bringing and sustaining change. Where are you black church? Too busy taking collections so your pastors can drive big body Benz's and have ghetto fabulous weddings with 20 bridesmaids dressed in leather (Google that fiasco if you haven't seen the pictures). Why black people still go to church, particularly these, behooves me. Do you really think these places will save your souls when they won't even try to save the lives of your infants?

There are some who do good there. Dr. Melrose Blackett is an OB/GYN who works diligently with black women in Memphis, providing prenatal care and weight management classes to improve underlying health issues. I'm sure there are many others.

I'm going to Hope when I next visit Memphis and placing money in their collection plate. That is my contribution, though minor, to this problem. Until then, I'll be mobilizing the citizens who remain there to demand change and continuing my promotion of breastfeeding.