Health is wealth. Health is empowerment. Health is pride itself.

—33-year-old Black woman, San Francisco Bay Area

In Phase I of the three-part Listening to Black Californians study, 100 Black Californians were interviewed about their views on health, their experiences with racism and health care, and their perspectives on quality health care. The interviewees, who ranged in age from 18 to 86 and resided in locations across the state, were selected to represent the diversity of Black Californians.

Their firsthand stories created a mosaic of experiences and views that illustrated how Black Californians regard health and the health care system.

Read the report.

Nobody should ever have to feel like…they have to turn themselves away from getting the proper care they need. I have faith in a lot of stuff, but the health care system I don’t have faith in. I don’t. And I do have to turn that around, but I just can’t. I’m afraid.

—35-year-old multiracial man, Central Valley

Being treated with dignity and respect in health care means ‘treating people how you want to be treated. So, if that means being kind, being respectful, understanding, open. But also, you know, treat me as if I were your family member and, you know, they were here and they were sick.’

—25-year-old Black woman, Sacramento/Far North