October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when the world turns pink to remind us of the lives touched, the battles fought, and the hope carried forward. But beyond the ribbons and campaigns, there is an urgent truth that too often goes unheard: Black women and men face unique and devastating disparities when it comes to breast cancer.

As a two-time breast cancer survivor, a Black woman in technology, and the founder of AfroPink, I carry these truths not as statistics but as lived experience. My story—and the story of so many others—sits at the intersection of race, gender, health, and resilience. It is why I believe awareness is not enough. We must empower our communities with practical steps for early detection and provide culturally grounded spaces for education, advocacy, and healing.

Breast cancer does not discriminate, but the systems surrounding detection, treatment, and survivorship often do. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite having similar rates of diagnosis. For Black men, breast cancer is rarer, but when it does occur, it is often caught at a later stage, with poorer outcomes.

Why? The reasons are layered—delayed screenings, systemic bias in healthcare, lack of access to quality treatment, underrepresentation in clinical trials, and a legacy of mistrust toward medical institutions. Add to that the social determinants of health—housing, employment, transportation, and caregiving responsibilities—and the burden grows even heavier.

This is not simply a medical crisis. It is a justice issue.

In 2019, I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. Just as I was learning how to piece myself back together, in 2020, I was diagnosed again. The news was crushing, but I leaned into my faith, my family, and my community. And I learned an essential truth: resilience is not about pretending to be strong; it’s about refusing to give up on yourself even when the storm rages twice as hard.

I also recognized that my story could not remain mine alone. Black women needed to see another Black woman saying: early detection saved my life, and it can save yours too. Out of that conviction, AfroPink was born—a nonprofit dedicated to bringing breast cancer awareness directly into our communities, especially in places where healthcare feels out of reach.

One of AfroPink’s signature programs is the Pink Pop-Up, where we literally pop up in neighborhoods—barbershops, ice cream shops, community centers, churches—with breast health experts and lived experience experts. These events are about more than screenings; they’re about conversations. We show women and men how to perform self-exams, we share culturally relevant resources, and we make the experience less intimidating by embedding it in everyday spaces.

At these Pop-Ups, the message is simple: early detection saves lives. Whether it’s mammograms, clinical breast exams, or newer non-radiation breast scan options offered at some community events, we make sure people understand their choices and feel empowered to take action.

Every October, AfroPink, in partnership with SurviveHer and the Metro New York Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, hosts our Pink Party on the Plaza, a community celebration that mixes education with joy. There are panels on survivorship and mental health, demonstrations on self-care, music, food, and even on-site screenings. It’s a reminder that breast cancer awareness doesn’t have to be somber—it can be rooted in community, culture, and collective healing.

Breast cancer can feel overwhelming, but there are simple, practical steps that each of us—women and men—can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones:

1. Know Your Normal. Perform regular self-exams (monthly is best). For women, this means checking for lumps, thickening, or changes in the breast and underarm area. For men, it means paying attention to the pectoral area.

2. Don’t Delay Screenings. If you’re over 40, talk to your provider about when to start mammograms. If you have a family history of breast cancer—or if you’re a Black woman under 40—ask whether earlier or alternative screening options are right for you.

3. Explore Your Options. In addition to mammograms, there are other tools for detection—including ultrasound, MRI, and newer non-radiation scan technologies available at certain sites.

4. Advocate for Yourself. If something feels off, insist on being heard. Too often, Black patients are dismissed or told to “wait and see.” Trust your intuition and push for answers.

5. Know Your History. Family health history matters. Talk with relatives about breast and other cancers. If multiple family members have had breast or ovarian cancer, consider genetic counseling.

6. Take Care of Your Whole Self. Nutrition, exercise, stress management, and mental health care all play a role in prevention and recovery.

Breast cancer awareness has long been associated with pink ribbons and mainstream campaigns, but awareness in Black communities must go deeper. It requires:

- Representation. Black survivors and advocates sharing their stories openly.

- Access. Screenings in our neighborhoods, not just in hospitals far from where we live.

- Education. Materials that reflect our faces, our language, and our realities.

- Healing. Recognizing the mental and emotional toll, not just the physical.

When we center Black voices in this conversation, we dismantle the stigma, replace silence with dialogue, and build networks of support that ripple across generations.

As AfroPink enters its fifth year, I am both humbled and energized. We’ve reached thousands of people through Pop-Ups, partnerships, and our annual events. But there is so much more to do. Breast cancer does not wait, and neither can we.

I invite you to join us: attend a Pop-Up, bring a friend to the Pink Party on the Plaza, or simply share this article with someone you love. Awareness is the first step, but action saves lives.

This October, let’s commit to more than wearing pink. Let’s commit to centering Black stories, lifting Black voices, and protecting Black lives in the fight against breast cancer.

AfroPink is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breast cancer awareness, education, and empowerment in Black communities. Through programs like the Pink Pop-Up and annual events like the Pink Party on the Plaza, AfroPink brings screenings, resources, and conversations directly into neighborhoods—because early detection saves lives, and every person deserves support through the fight.

Follow AfroPink on Instagram at @afropinkorg, visit www.afropink.org, and join us in building a future where breast cancer is not a death sentence, but a call to action and a source of collective strength.