Dying to Eat in Jackson
November 11th, 2009
We actually never thought we’d say this, but here it goes. Make sure you tune into BET this Sunday. Yes, Black Entertainment Television, a network which we feel many ways about, none of which we’ll discuss here. However, on Sunday, their Heart of the City series will continue, this time focusing on Jackson, Mississippi, and the impact of obesity on the black community. Previous Heart of the City episodes have focused on the dropout rate in Detroit and violent crime in Chicago, and have been-dare we say it? Rather insightful and informative. Heart of the City: Dying to Eat in Jackson is hosted by Star Jones, who calls herself an advocate for healthy lifestyle adoption. The program focuses on Jackson, but its discussion is relevant to our community as a whole. A combination of experts such as doctors and foundation executives and personal accounts, Dying to Eat in Jackson is a surprisingly through attempt to tackle what has been called the biggest-and most silent-killer of our people. Mississippi, the focus of the show, is home to the country’s largest population of African-Americans, and also happens to be America’s heaviest state. Obesity in Jackson disproportionately affects women and children, and therefore disproportionately affects our future. Tune in Sunday at 10 pm EST.

