R&B Star and Pastor Montell Jordan on Health and Wellness for the Community

Interviewed and written by Tocarra Eldridge-Robinson

 

I recently had the opportunity to interview R&B star and pastor, Montell Jordan, about the health crisis in the Black community. The musical icon looks to take action and lead efforts to end inequities in healthcare, especially for those adversely impacted by, asthma, COPD and COVID-19. Here is what the musical legend has to share with the Consciousness Magazine readers.

Tocarra Eldridge: How are you today?

Montell Jordan: I'm fantastic.

Tocarra: Thanks so much for the interview.

Montell: Absolutely!

Tocarra: I'll start off by asking you, how did you become involved with the Allergy & Asthma Network?

Montell: Well, I have a friend, Dr. Leroy Graham, who has been a member of the church where I was on staff, Victory Church in Norcross, Georgia for many years. I know he was on that board and I was just familiar with his work doing some things in Atlanta with The Bridge Atlanta Medical Center. I've always been connected to him. And when the COVID-19 things really started to spike and it came to the forefront and the disparities of the different communities that were being affected, he wanted to do something to make a difference - with his medical background and my influence standpoint. I think he had already partnered with the Allergy & Asthma Network, and because of that, I kind of got guilty by association. I was able to be able to see the partnership and the things that they were doing together.

Tocarra: You’re taking action to lead efforts to inequalities in healthcare. What type of gratification is this for you?

Montell: I just feel like the main thing I've been trying to say is that everybody can't do everything, but everybody can do something.

And so, this is just my something. Some people are navigating through social injustice. Some people are marching or protesting or in every different way and in every different facet that different groups are trying to help where our world is right now. I want to do my part to help communities that are suffering greatly more than certain other communities. Within the black and brown communities, there are numbers there that are showing that they're suffering at a higher rate than other communities. And so, this is my thing, I don't really get a gratification out of it; I'm just doing the right thing. I feel grateful to be able to be a part of educating people and making things available that are available to people that may not know they are.

Tocarra: Right. Absolutely! Absolutely! Now when it comes to promoting health equality, what influenced you to actually want to make that difference, to bring health awareness to the people, to the community?

Montell: Yeah. Well, I think that a lot of people, when it comes to healthcare, when it comes to the financials, I have people that don't want to take their kids to a doctor, whatever the case, because of the cost and because where healthcare is at in its current state. Just because of that, we wanted to put together something that said, “Hey, when you come to do this, you're not going to be asked for your insurance. You're not going to be asked to pay anything.” This it’s just some really, really good people donating some finances, their time and their volunteerism to come together and just say, “Hey, this is a basic need and if you have this need, come and we're going to fulfill that need.” I think it's a faithful thing to do more than a political thing. I think it's just that when people of faith and churches and medical professionals and healthcare people say, “Hey, we just want to do the right thing.”

Tocarra: That's a beautiful thing when people come together and just believe in helping and giving back. Now, what are your thoughts regarding the black community? Do you think that there is a lack of education on the importance of health or is there simply a lack of resources?

Montell: I think both. I think there's a lack of education. I think there's a lack of resources. You know, I joked, when I was a kid, I think the community probably said it that Robitussin was the cure for everything as a kid [laugh]. I think that’s because of the resilience of the black community and the endurance in our DNA and life of existence in America; we don't look at healthcare the same. A lot of times we don’t look at mental healthcare the same. I think we have to take measures to provide resources more than others.

Tocarra: Montell, for those who are battling asthma, COPD, or any other element in their life, would you like to share some words of encouragement that may inspire them?

Montell: Absolutely. I would say beyond just COVID testing, you know, I can tell you how many people I know deal with asthma… sleep apnea. There are so many different things that we just take and just live with it. And you don't have to just live with it. There are people and organizations like the Asthma & Allergy Network. There are resources and people who are looking to help to assist. To be able to go and get help that's able to be provided, I think that's a very, very big deal. I’m just a pastor, pride comes before the fall. And I don’t want our people to be so prideful that we're not able to see when help is on the way.

Tocarra: You’re right. Most definitely. In today's society, many people are going through challenging and difficult times, as we both know. Do you have any uplifting words that you would like to share with them also in hopes that they will keep the faith and remain inspired?

Montell: Yeah. I think that God is going to do his part. I think we have to do our part, and that’s my encouragement. That in the same way that I believe God will heal, I believe He'll protect. He'll do all the things that in faith we stand on as those that are our Christians and people of faith. believe I also believe that in that we have to do our part.

Tocarra: Right. All right. Montell, now, would you like to add anything else before we conclude the interview?

Montell: I'm honored to be able to lend my voice for any influence I have to not only help Black people but helping to educate Black and White people in how we can work together to be able to fix some of the oppressive challenges that our nation is navigating through right now. I don't think one side can do it. I think we have to come together to make it happen. I think this is just one piece of a big puzzle that if we could help in this instance of the medical profession and offering some different, leading to a healthier population of black people, a healthier American population – I think that's important.

Tocarra: Oh, yeah! This has been a wonderful interview. Thank you so much for your time!

Montell: Thank you, Tocarra. I appreciate you as well!