Business

Black pharmacists going ‘above and beyond’

FLORIDA COURIER — After a health insurance change forced Bernard Macon to cut ties with his Black doctor, he struggled to find another African American physician online. Then he realized two health advocates were hiding in plain sight. At a nearby drugstore in the suburbs outside of St. Louis, a pair of pharmacists became the unexpected allies of Macon and his wife, Brandy. Much like the Macons, the pharmacists were energetic young parents who were married — and unapologetically Black.

Published

7 years ago

July 14, 2019

Vijayakumar B

By Cara Anthony

SHILOH, Ill. — After a health insurance change forced Bernard Macon to cut ties with his Black doctor, he struggled to find another African American physician online. Then he realized two health advocates were hiding in plain sight.

At a nearby drugstore in the suburbs outside of St. Louis, a pair of pharmacists became the unexpected allies of Macon and his wife, Brandy. Much like the Macons, the pharmacists were energetic young parents who were married — and unapologetically Black.

Vincent and Lekeisha Williams, owners of LV Health and Wellness Pharmacy, didn’t hesitate to help when Brandy had a hard time getting the medicine she needed before and after sinus surgery last year.

The Williamses made calls when Brandy, a physician assistant who has worked in the medical field for 15 years, didn’t feel heard by her doctor’s office.

“They completely went above and beyond,” said Bernard Macon, 36, a computer programmer and father of two. “They turned what could have been a bad experience into a good experience.”

Black doctors, dentist

Now more than ever, the Macons are betting on Black medical professionals to give their family better care. The Macon children see a Black pediatrician. A Black dentist takes care of their teeth. Brandy Macon relies on a Black gynecologist.

And now the two Black pharmacists fill the gap for Bernard Macon while he searches for a primary care doctor in his network, giving him trusted confidants that chain pharmacies likely wouldn’t.

Trust, understanding

Black Americans continue to face persistent health care disparities.

Compared with their White counterparts, Black men and women are more likely to die of heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza, pneumonia, diabetes and AIDS, according to the Office of Minority Health.

But medical providers who give patients culturally competent care — the act of acknowledging a patient’s heritage, beliefs and values during treatment — often see improved patient outcomes, according to multiple studies.

Part of it is trust and understanding, and part of it can be more nuanced knowledge of the medical conditions that may be more prevalent in those populations.

Creative support

For patients, finding a way to identify with their pharmacist can pay off big time.

Cutting pills in half, skipping doses or not taking medication altogether can be damaging to one’s health — even deadly. And many patients see their pharmacists monthly, far more often than annual visits to their medical doctors, creating more opportunities for supportive care.

That’s why some Black pharmacists are finding ways to connect with customers in and outside of their stores.

Inspirational music, counseling, accessibility and transparency have turned some minority-owned pharmacies into hubs for culturally competent care.

“We understand the community because we are a part of the community,” Lekeisha Williams said. “We are visible in our area doing outreach, attending events and promoting health and wellness.”

History of mistrust

To be sure, such care is not just relevant to African Americans. But mistrust of the medical profession is especially a hurdle to overcome when treating Black Americans.

Many are still shaken by the history of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were used in research worldwide without her family’s knowledge; the Tuskegee Project, which failed to treat Black men with syphilis; and other projects that used African Americans unethically for research.

At Black-owned Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center near Grier Heights, a historically Black neighborhood in Charlotte, N.C., the playlist is almost as important as the acute care clinic attached to the drugstore.

Owner Martez Prince watches his customers shimmy down the aisles as they make their way through the store listening to JayZ, Beyoncé, Kirk Franklin, Whitney Houston and other Black artists.

Prince said the music helps him in his goal of making health care more accessible and providing medical advice patients can trust.

More than dispense

In rural Georgia, Teresa Mitchell, a Black woman with 25 years of pharmacy experience, connects her customers with home health aides, shows them how to access insurance services online and even makes house calls.

Her Total Care Pharmacy is the only health care provider in Baconton, where roughly half the town’s 900 residents are Black.

“We do more than just dispense,” Mitchell said.

Iradean Bradley, 72, became a customer soon after Total Care Pharmacy opened in 2016. She struggled to pick up prescriptions before Mitchell came to town.

“It was so hectic because I didn’t have transportation of my own,” Bradley said. “It’s so convenient for us older people, who have to pay someone to go out of town and get our medicine.”

Educating patients

Lakesha M. Butler, president of the National Pharmaceutical Association, advocates for such culturally competent care through the professional organization representing minorities in the pharmacy industry and studies it in her academic work at the Edwardsville campus of Southern Illinois University.

She also feels its impact directly, she said, when she sees patients at clinics two days a week in St. Charles, Mo., and East St. Louis, Ill.

“It’s just amazing to me when I’m practicing in a clinic setting and an African American patient sees me,” Butler said. “It’s a pure joy that comes over their face, a sigh of relief. It’s like ‘OK, I’m glad that you’re here because I can be honest with you and I know you will be honest with me.’”

She often finds herself educating her Black patients about diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other common conditions.

“Unfortunately, there’s still a lack of knowledge in those areas,” Butler said. “That’s why those conditions can be so prevalent.”

Bad experience

For Macon, his experiences with medical professionals of backgrounds different from his own left him repeatedly disappointed and hesitant to open up.

After his wife had a miscarriage, Macon said, the couple didn’t receive the compassion they longed for while grieving the loss. A few years later, a bad experience with their children’s pediatrician when their oldest child had a painful ear infection sparked a move to a different provider.

“My daughter needed attention right away, but we couldn’t get through to anybody,” Macon recalled. “That’s when my wife said, ‘We aren’t doing this anymore!’”

Today, Macon’s idea of good health care isn’t colorblind. If a doctor can’t provide empathetic and expert treatment, he’s ready to move, even if a replacement is hard to find.

HUED app

Kimberly Wilson, 31, will soon launch an app for consumers like Macon who are seeking culturally competent care. Therapists, doulas, dentists, specialists and even pharmacists of color will be invited to list their services on HUED.

Beta testing is expected to start this summer in New York City and Washington, D.C., and the app will be free for consumers.

“Black Americans are more conscious of their health from a lot of different perspectives,” Wilson said. “We’ve begun to put ourselves forward.”

But even after the introduction of HUED, such health care could be hard to find.

While about 13% of the U.S. population is Black, only about 6% of the country’s doctors and surgeons are Black, according to Data USA.

Black pharmacists make up about 7% of the professionals in their field, and, though the demand is high, Black students accounted for about 9% of all students enrolled in pharmacy school in 2018.

‘Barbershop feel’

For Macon, though, the Williamses’ LV Health and Wellness Pharmacy in Shiloh provides some of the support he has been seeking.

“I still remember the very first day I went there. It was almost like a barbershop feel,” Macon said, likening it to the community hubs where customers can chitchat about sports, family and faith while getting their hair cut.

“I could relate to who was behind the counter.”

This article originally appeared in the Florida Courier.

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Oakland Post: Week of August 12 – 18, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of August 12 – 18, 2026

Published

10 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Unveils: ‘Powering the Future’ Theme for 47th Annual Statewide Convention

POST NEWS GROUP — For nearly 50 years, the CHCC has been the frontline champion of California’s small-business ecosystem. As the economic landscape evolves, “Powering the Future” signals bold momentum—emphasizing the innovation, resilience, and leadership needed to fuel the next generation of entrepreneurs and community leaders. The theme bridges the CHCC’s foundational advocacy over the past 47 years with a strategic vision for rapid economic transformation.

Published

10 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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Luis Zambrana, McDermott Costa Insurance; Leo Callejas, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) Northern Region chairperson; Karen Guzman, Aliza Gallo, board director, Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce (OLCC); Julian Cañete, president and CEO of CHCC; Sharon Fonseca, OLCC board director. Courtesy photo.

By Special to The Post

The premier August event in Oakland will unite business leaders, policymakers, and innovators to drive the next generation of California’s economic growth.

The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) has officially announced “Powering the Future” as the theme for its 47th Annual Statewide Convention. The landmark event will be held August 19-21 at the Oakland Marriott City Center in Oakland, California.

For nearly 50 years, the CHCC has been the frontline champion of California’s small-business ecosystem. As the economic landscape evolves, “Powering the Future” signals bold momentum—emphasizing the innovation, resilience, and leadership needed to fuel the next generation of entrepreneurs and community leaders. The theme bridges the CHCC’s foundational advocacy over the past 47 years with a strategic vision for rapid economic transformation.

Driving Innovation and Economic Influence

As California leads global trends in technology, clean energy, and entrepreneurship, Hispanic-owned businesses are at the helm. From harnessing artificial intelligence and accelerating digital transformation to pioneering sustainable practices, Latino entrepreneurs are actively shaping tomorrow’s industries.

“Hosting this convention in Oakland is deeply meaningful,” said Noel Gallo, who represents Council District 5. “Approximately 28% of Oakland’s population is Latino, and their contributions shape every aspect of our civic, cultural, and economic life.”

Latino‑owned businesses are central to our city’s growth; they drive job creation, revitalize commercial corridors, strengthen neighborhood identity, and contribute to innovation across sectors including construction, hospitality, education, retail, arts, professional services, and more, Gallo asserts.

“These enterprises do more than generate revenue; they anchor family legacies, nurture community pride, and create spaces where culture and commerce meet,” Gallo said.

“Following a period of significant economic transformation, ‘Powering the Future’ is more than a theme—it is a collective call to action,” said Julian Cañete, president and CEO of the CHCC. “Our businesses and future leaders aren’t merely adapting to change; they are driving it. This convention will showcase the innovation and leadership needed to build a stronger, more prosperous California for generations to come.”

Cañete is also excited to have Oakland as the organization’s host city. Noting Oakland’s historical significance and deep-rooted diversity “From its legacy as center of social movements to its modern identity as a hub for innovation, sustainability, and small business growth, Oakland embodies the resilience and creativity that define our state,” Cañete added. “We are proud to contribute to this dynamic community’s ongoing momentum and economic vitality.”

Three Days of Impact, Connection, and Advocacy

The CHCC Annual Convention empowers Hispanic and diverse businesses and communities while fostering connections and advancing economic opportunities. The convention features impactful presentations on business development, current business trends, economic and community development, and policy-oriented discussions.

Attendees can connect with business leaders, thought leaders, elected officials, and other Hispanic and diverse small business and community leaders. Participants establish strategic, long-lasting partnerships through direct personal engagement, best-practice sharing, interactive dialogue, networking workshops, and more.

The agenda includes an annual business matchmaking program, dynamic panels and speakers, an exhibition hall, awards ceremonies, and meal events highlighting the remarkable achievements of Hispanic and diverse businesses and communities.

The CHCC Annual Awards celebrate Hispanic and diverse companies and communities for their hard work, ingenuity, dedication, and contributions to California’s economy. The CHCC Annual Convention also aims to advance a diverse supply chain and create expanded business opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs and communities.

The Oakland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the source for this report.

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Returning to Its Roots, the Oakland Black-Eyed Pea Festival Partners with the Freedom Farmers Market Sept. 12

POST NEWS GROUP — Freedom Farmers’ Market (FFM) vendors sell produce and promote wellness and nutrition through organic herbs, massage, and other gift items from July through October on the second and fourth Saturdays at a dozen canopies in the last block of Shattuck Avenue, where it merges with Telegraph Avenue.

Published

10 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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Elaine Smith, executive director of Farms to Grow, Inc., holds T-shirt for Ki’Ara LaFitte, winner of the Freedom Farmers’ Market Watermelon-Eating Contest at the season opening on July 11. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Black-Eyed Pea Festival (BEPF), a celebration of African American traditional music, food and art, will return to its roots through a partnership with Farms to Grow, Inc., the hosts of the Freedom Farmers’ Market on Sept. 12.

Now in its 11th year, the downsized festival sponsored by Omnira Institute will open with presentations by Wakan Wiya Two-Spirit Drum, a drum invocation for the ancestors by Awon Ohun Omnira, a performance by Andre Thierry of Accordion Soul, and most importantly, fresh black-eyed peas for sale.

Freedom Farmers’ Market (FFM) vendors sell produce and promote wellness and nutrition through organic herbs, massage, and other gift items from July through October on the second and fourth Saturdays at a dozen canopies in the last block of Shattuck Avenue, where it merges with Telegraph Avenue.

Over the years, FFM vendors have appeared at the Black-Eyed Pea Festival and vice versa, so this collaboration is like a family reunion.

Farms to Grow, Inc. Executive Director Elaine Smith said the collaboration with Omnira Institute was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse. “People talk about community and unity for Black people – I always want to be an example of what has to be done,” Smith said. “Anyway that we can partner with our people, we want to do that.”

Charlotte Jackson, a longtime vendor with FFM and the festival, had been known for her jellies, jams and chow-chow through Pots n’ Jars. For the last several years, she hasn’t been able to find a commercial kitchen she can afford, so she began selling vegan soap and skin care products that her son and his partner produce under the name Lather and More.

“It’s been a blessing,” said Jackson, who will tell her customers that although they can order the wares from the website, there’s no such thing as ‘smell-avision.” From her table, she encourages passers-by to take a sniff of the soaps, then directs them to the nearby booths.

Jackson functions as a sort of ‘town crier’ of ‘buying Black,’ never failing to encourage Black people to take their mule or Pontiac or Chevrolet and steer it toward Black businesses like Mandela Market.

Likewise, the Black-Eyed Pea Festival was established to encourage Black entrepreneurship by providing a space for Black creatives to sell their handmade or original designs and products without competing with commercially produced goods.

It also served as a way to both commemorate and invigorate memory of the once-thriving Black community of West/North Oakland before it was divided by highways, BART, and then ravaged by the crack cocaine epidemic.

“For one day, I wanted to invoke the success of that community through the sound of music, the taste of soul food and black-eyed peas and the beauty of our art,” Ravernell said.

Once deciding to follow through on the idea of holding a festival celebrating African American traditions, Ravernell settled on using the black-eyed pea as its symbol because of its pride of place in Black people’s consciousness on New Year’s Day and because the peas were originally cultivated in Africa.

Learning that Fresno farmer Wil Scott, former president of the California African American Farmers Association, grew black-eyed peas as well as other legacy crops that are the foundation of a soul food menu, Ravernell was intent on ensuring Scott’s presence at the first festival in 2014. Whenever he could, and whenever the weather yielded a bountiful crop, Scott would bring his black-eyed peas to the festival, shelled or on the pods.

Originally cultivated in Africa, the black-eyed pea is believed to have been brought to the U.S. hidden in the hair of African captives brought to the Western Hemisphere during the holocaust of the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Known to grow plentifully even in poor soil, the pea was associated with abundance in Africa and later, in the U.S., with good luck.

She also learned that black-eyed peas nourish poor soil, that they are a very good source of nutrition, and that they probably contributed to the longevity of the enslaved.

“I thought the black-eyed pea, its story and its significance for Black people made it a great symbol to represent Black culture,” she said. In spite of everything they endured, Black people emerged from slavery and Jim Crow as masters of making a lot from a little, creating a culture that would be emulated and imitated at home and abroad.

Feeling that many people know only the most recent iterations of Black music – Hip Hop and R&B – she created the festival to promote the music of earlier eras, which reflect the thoughts and feelings of Black people over time.

That’s why the festival highlights straight-ahead jazz, gospel, zydeco and the Second Line of the New Orleans jazz funeral.

“It’s not enough to remember,” Ravernell said. “We need to actively nourish the roots of our culture.”