European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A healthy concern for Black women by Maureen Downey Cox news services Mississippi Freedom lighter Fannie Lou harrier s Plain i am sick and lived of being sick and tired has emerged Asha rallying cry of a National health movement dedicated to making Black women in the United states Well and whole. The National Black women s health pro Cal pursues its goals from a rambling rooms egg Blue mansion on 2vi acres in Southwest Atlanta. The 16-room House is the incubator Lor seminars health conferences and support groups that Span 22 states the Caribbean and Africa. The project attracts women of All backgrounds. In workshops a cardiologist sits beside a welfare Mother. Volunteers in dreadlocks and Ashikis work beside straight haired women in jeans and sneakers. Tit  rang of participation is credited to by Lye Avery. The founder and executive director of the project. The Plain speaking 49-year-old health advocate discovered the frightening condition of american Black women while collecting data for the 1981 annual meeting of the National women s health network a non profit feminist health movement. Aver Learned that Black women were More Likely than while women to die of diabetes cervical cancer alcohol abuse and childbirth. Black infants were twice As Likely As White infants to die in the first Yea of Lite and Black americans could expect to live five years less than Whites those disturbing statistics convinced her that Black women were in crisis. A Tot of us a Kurt t know How to Tako care of ourselves because to always took care of everybody else Avery said. Black woman have to know that it s perfectly All right to love yourself to be Good to  with a Grant irom the is. Foundation and technical assistance from the women s health network Avery set out to reach Black women. She began in her Home state of Florida. From one support group in tote town of Monte Ocha Gordon he project has expanded to 66 self help groups. Avery established Atlanta As the project s base in 1962 because Black americans have roots there and because the Atlanta University Complex is located there. For funding the non profit  on Grants. Donations and membership dues from its 800 members. A donation from the family of the late Atlanta philanthropist Phoebe Lunden enabled the project to Purchase its new Home in 1385. The project targets Low income women. You have to lift the standards of women struggling on the Bottom and they will Raisa everybody else Avery said. They Are the ones with the worst health statistics the ones who have the most problems coping and living in this  when the project held its 1983 Slack women s health issues conference at Atlanta s Peiman College funds were aet aside to charter buses for Low income women the conference was dedicated to the fete Fannie Lou Hamer the daughter of a Mississippi sharecropper. Harrier was jailed and beaten when she led a group of Blacks attempting to Register to vote in 1963, she went on to help found the Mississippi Freedom democratic party and worked lot the registration of Black Volos and election of Black political candidate Gnu her death in 1977. Avery Silt shakes her head Over that first conference and her mounting apprehension As carloads and busloads of women continued to arrive. While Avary hard expected Soo at the conference attendance reached almost 2.000. We did t want to believe we d have closer to 2,000 women because we were scared Avery said. We did t know what we would do Wilh that Many people the conference s mix of practical health information and open dialogue set he tone for the ongoing work of he project. I want women to know first that we have serious health prob Ems we need to took  Avery said and that if a Teal important Lor us to come together to help break Down some of the isolation and powerlessness that we eel so we can Start making he necessary lifestyle changes that we  those changes often begin with workshops on Black and female what is the reality the workshops Are directed by Lillie Allen whom Avery Calls the project s soul  Moat of us have never had the Opportunity to come together with Mack women and Tell the truth about what is going on Allen said. It is no True that we can t nurture one another. We must begin to Tell our stories. We be been told to keep our business to ourselves. This business of silence is killing  the workshops Are emotional sessions in which women have revealed childhood rapes and talked about abusive marriages. They have also helped women understand that the racial stereotypes they grew up with Are nol True. One thing we learn is that we Don t a have to be alike. There is no monolithic Black woman. We eat everything from chitterling to Tofu Avery said. In the workshops Black women Are Able to validate and celebrate their diversity Avery said. But that own Way dose not extend to the Raco of project participants. Only Black women can attend workshops and support groups which Are publicized through word of Mouth and outreach programs. Avery also Devers the message pro urfi her frequent speeches around the country. A have not id pics to come together and talk As Black women before Avery said. Whal we do is provide support for ourselves and our Sisters because they Haven t been told. I am Here Sisler to cover your Back while you do something different to hold your hand " covering Avery a Back is a protective staff of eight who share her pressing sense of Mission. So fervently do the women believe in their cause that some have moved across the country after meeting Avery Naima major. 37, had been a fund Raiser for a California based women s medical rights coalition in november she moved to Atlanta to join the project leaving her husband and three children in san Francisco. I grew up in the North in a family that had led the South saying they did t leave anything Here but rags major said. I had been raising lots of Money for other people s Good causes. When i heard about the National Black women s health project i knew thai i wanted to work with Byllye. I wanted to raise lots of Money for my Good  the project solicits the support of others particularly if it comes in the form of a Check but decision making roles Are limited to Black women. That May offend feminists who subscribe to the idea a Rainbow coalition but Avery contends that Black women have been Given Short shrift pm lha agendas of feminist groups. Avery it a Veteran of the feminist health movement. In 1970, her husband died of a massive heart attack at age 33, leaving her with two email children to rear. I used to say he was a picture f health Avery. Mow i know he was a walking time  his death spurred her to become involved with health issues. She helped found two women s health facilities in Gainesville. Fla. But it was basically a while women s health movement Wilh a Black woman Here and there she said. In 1980, she became director of a Ceta program that supplied child care and transportation to teenage mothers. During this period she formed the philosophy that guides the project today. Erma Bombeck courage Sisters this month an invasion of miniskirts will storm the stores and i m Here to Tell you to close ranks and hang Lough. Surely most of you were around during the big Hemline War in the late 60s and Early 70s. Like a Bunch of sheep we All gathered up our clothes and hat them Cut in half. Have we Learned nothing ram history have we forgotten so soon the cold car seals that sent shooting pains up to our armpits have we erased from our minds the frustration of wanting a drink of water and having to wait until everyone left the theater up we could Bend Over the drinking Fountain have you no memory of buying slips so Small you could blow your nose in them come on people get it together. And when you weaken Lum on a Mary Tyler Moore or Mario Thomas rerun and Tell yourself if Mary and Mario can t pull off the miniskirt then what Chance do you have they re out to get us. We All know that. There la be ads of nymphs Wilh two Skinny legs dangling from under a skirt that barely clears the Torso and you la Tell yourself i can look like  Trust me if you Are Over 10 years of age you will not look like that. There will be ads in the sunday paper for exercise classes guaranteed to have your legs ready for a miniskirt in six weeks. Unless you Are prepared to Drain them and Start All Over again your legs will not be ready for a miniskirt in six weeks. There will be pressure trom stars and fashion experts who will Tell you you Are a fashion Oulie if you Don t succumb to higher hemlines. Joan Collins will Wear miniskirts. Vanna while will Wear miniskirts. Or. Flush wih Wear a Long Blouse. You will waver. By Strong. Tell yourself if god had meant for us to show the Back of our Knees. A would have Given us flesh coloured varicose veins. Remind yourself of How you got stuck with a closet full of skirts that could be used Only to dress the dog on halloween. The news irom the Hemline front is nol Good los Angeles and new York have already fallen but Here is no reason to panic. The Burden alls to the heartland to establish a line of resistance through which the miniskirt cannot penetrate. Please read while baffle hymn of the Republic is playing in the background Lor proper mood we can win this Battle Sisters if we aft Puu together. God motherhood Flag and hemlines Are the american Way of life. We do have a Choice and that Choice is ours to make. Don t give history a second Chance to screw up. Remember a woman never stands so tall As when she Stoops to pick up a fallen unfortunate who is wearing a miniskirt and cannot put herself upright. Courage ohm ars la tune Page 16 the stars and stripes monday june 15,1987