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photo by steed media service
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Owner, Inglewood’s Finest Barber and Beauty Salon
The barbershop has been an iconic point of historical reference for
African American males since the turn of the 20th century. A
cornerstone for many black communities, the barbershop is often a
sanctuary for many of the ideas, trends and beliefs which have over
time evolved into an integral part of the identity of today’s
African American man.
Kevin Hill, the owner of Inglewood’s Finest Barber and Beauty
Salon, knows firsthand the importance of the role that barbershops play
as it relates to black culture, which is why he was thrilled to take
part in the first annual Los Angeles Black BarberShop Health Outreach
Program. The project involves 22 black-owned barbershops throughout Los
Angeles that will have medical professionals stationed on-site to test
African American men for diabetes and hypertension.
“[As] barbers, we’re actually counselors, too. We encounter
a lot of different clients with health problems, so they tell us their
problems and we give them our feedback. Our basic thing is listening
and giving feedback. We need to bring it up, especially when thinking
about issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, AIDS and other …
health problems,” says Hill.
Too many African American men are plagued by various health problems
due to a lack of information regarding preventive measures and not
seeking medical attention. Hill is hoping that the barbershop will be a
place that has no communication barriers. “There are all kinds of
health issues that brothers have that we don’t really talk about
in the barbershop. Actually, we do talk about it but we don’t do
anything about it, so we need to start doing more instead of
talking,” finishes Hill. –jason thompson
