Each year on Martin Luther King day, we reflect and participate in parades to honor his game changing role in the civil rights movement. Wikipedia describes King as “the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.” And the release of the Hollywood film Selma spotlights the movement on the big screen like never before, gaining 4 to 5 star ratings from movie critics and fans alike.

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However, I question if there might be a “New Selma” required? I’d vote ‘Yes’, but not because of racial injustices per se…instead there are real stubborn health disparities, that to some extent, have been precipitated by those injustices.

Make a cake for New Selma.

It doesn’t matter who you are, we’ve all heard the stats on African American health: more deaths from heart disease, more likely to have diabetes, higher prevalence of hypertension and obesity, almost one of every 5 people age 65 and under are uninsured, almost half of the total population who get HIV and AIDS, and the list goes on.

Today on Healthcake, I’m starting Black History Month early with a New Selma Party. I’ve made a cake to provoke some conversation and “outside the box” ideas to uncover lasting solutions to African American health disparities.

Contribute your own story to the New Selma Party.