Breast Cancer Risks and Screening Barriers for Black Women

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Word In Black
Word In Black
The Word In Black Racial Equity Fund, a component fund of Local Media Foundation, supports the work of Black-owned and operated local news media by providing critical journalism resources for Word In Black, a collaborative effort of 10 legendary Black publishers. Soon after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Local Media Foundation established the Fund, originally called the Fund for Black Journalism. In the months after launch, donations to the Fund provided resources for LMF and 10 of the nation’s leading Black-owned local news organizations — AFRO News, The Atlanta Voice, Dallas Weekly, Houston Defender, Michigan Chronicle, New York Amsterdam News, Sacramento Observer, Seattle Medium, St. Louis American, and Washington Informer — to establish Word In Black. Word In Black is a digital startup unlike any other in the news media industry. It is the only national brand backed by legacy Black-owned news publishers, with strong histories and deep trust in their communities. Word In Black started small, with limited funding, and has grown quickly over the past few years. The Word In Black Racial Equity Fund supports journalism projects focused on solutions to racial inequities. Funding generally supports journalists who work for Word In Black, as well as journalists working for the 10 publishers. The Fund currently covers costs of 10 Word In Black journalists: an education reporter, education data journalist, health reporter, health data journalist, newsletter editor, climate justice reporter, community and audience engagement manager, finance reporter, religion reporter and the managing editor. The 10 publishers work with the WIB team to localize the stories in their markets, as well as producing their own original reporting.

Explore the Insights & Research Division’s new report on Black women and breast cancer.

by Christa Mahlobo

This report presents the findings of Word In Black’s national survey from its Insights & Research Division, exploring what Black women know about breast cancer, what questions they still have, and how they feel about risk, screening, and diagnosis.

Based on responses from nearly 1,000 participants, the report examines knowledge of established and commonly misunderstood risk factors, the information gaps respondents want addressed, and the emotions and concerns that shape health decisions — often in the context of unequal care and medical mistrust. By centering Black women’s voices and pairing data with lived experience, this report offers evidence that can guide more culturally responsive education, outreach, policy, and care.

Before you dive into the report, put your knowledge to the test. Take our Breast Cancer Fact Check quiz to see how much you know about risk factors, screening guidelines, and the realities that affect Black women most. It only takes a few minutes — and what you learn might surprise you. Then read the full report to see how your answers compare to nearly 1,000 Black women across the country, and discover what the data reveals about knowledge gaps, medical mistrust, and the urgent need for more culturally responsive care.

TAKE THE QUIZ

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