By Shelkecia Lessington, Program Manager, Public Health and Equity, Epilepsy Foundation of America and Health Equity Subcommittee Chair, Public Health, Education and Health Promotion, American Public Health Association  

Black History Month often celebrates resilience, but this year feels heavy. That weight comes from inequities that continue to shape health in Black communities. As a public health professional and as a Black woman, I experience this moment not only through headlines and policy debates, but through conversations in professional spaces, community meetings, and the fatigue I hear echoed across my networks.  

Health disparities in the Black community are well documented. Higher rates of chronic disease, maternal mortality, and preventable death continue to shape outcomes, and epilepsy is part of this story. Black Americans are more likely to experience risk factors associated with epilepsy, including strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Yet they are less likely to have consistent access to neurologists and specialty care. Studies have shown disparities in diagnostic delays, treatment access, and surgical referrals. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, which are common among people living with epilepsy, often go underdiagnosed and undertreated in Black communities, while stigma and mistrust further complicate care. These disparities are not inevitable, but the result of gaps in access, trust, and structural investment. 

In November 2025, I moderated a panel on Healing Justice where faith leaders, researchers, and community practitioners discussed what it means to address health inequities at their root. Healing Justice recognizes that healing must be collective, culturally grounded, and rooted in confronting structural conditions that produce chronic stress. One phrase from that conversation has stayed with me: “Collective liberation is a public health imperative.” In the context of epilepsy, that means we cannot focus solely on seizure management while ignoring access, trust, mental health, and representation in research. It means we cannot expect resilience without investment. 

Black communities have long relied on faith institutions, mutual aid networks, and Black-led organizations to fill gaps in care. But sustainable progress requires partnership with patient advocacy organizations, providers, and policymakers committed to equitable epilepsy care.  

For organizations serving individuals living with epilepsy, advancing equity requires action: 

• • Expand community-based epilepsy education and culturally responsive outreach
  • Increase access to neurologists and integrated behavioral health services
  • Invest in Black-led research and improve representation in clinical trials
  • Address stigma through faith and community partnerships
  • Embed patient voices from Black communities in program design and policy advocacy 

Black History Month is not only a time to honor resilience. It is a call to confront inequities that continue to shape health outcomes. Advancing epilepsy awareness and equitable care in the Black community is not optional if we are serious about health equity–it is foundational.