photo by steed media service

The barbershop has been an iconic point of historical reference for African American males since the turn of the 20th century.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


For more information, visit www.hotelstregisdetroit.com.

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