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Better together.

On Our Own Terms (OOOT) is an initiative of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI). OOOT is an informed network of organizations and experts who are focused on the prevention of HIV for, by and about Black cis and transgender women, as well as the care and treatment of women living with HIV.

Gianna
why now

We simply don’t have time to waste.

According to the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 60 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the US are among Black women. While their rates of infection are finally dropping (by 25 percent), we still have the highest rates among all women. In fact, Black women still have nearly 15 times the rate as their white counterparts, and five times the rate of Latinas. Black women and women of color must finally be a priority in policy and action in the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Our work combines evidence-based practices, cross-sector collaborations and the strengthening of community assets to lift up the sexual health and well being of Black women. OOOT is highlighting our mutual abilities to deliver innovative solutions and make a lasting investment in prevention.

We’ve teamed up with legendary actress Keshia Knight Pulliam for a PSA urging you to Own Your Ish when it comes to your sexual health!

87%
of Black women living with HIV contracted HIV through heterosexual contact
51%
of HIV diagnoses were among African American Transgender women in 2014.
KESHIA video

Resources & Tools

OOOT Video PHAB cast episode 1
PhabCast Episode 1 Teaser 3
PhabCast Episode 1 Teaser 2

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Did you know about World Bicycle Day?!

Not only is cycling fun, but it’s also a game-changer for your health. Every pedal stroke gets your heart pumping more efficiently, lowers blood pressure, and helps calm that resting heart rate. 🙌🏾

Now, I know, sometimes that uphill climb feels like your lungs are about to stage a protest, but there’s so much relief in knowing your cardiovascular system is getting stronger with every turn of the wheel. 🚴🏾‍♀️💨

Cycling isn’t just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about strengthening your body, mind, and heart.

Click the 🔗 in our for the Movement Matters Activity Tracker and more ways to keep moving.
#Blackwomenshealth #BWHI #TheImperative
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We love this core chair exercise with @thickchickfitness365! 🙌🏾 It’s such a great way to boost your strength, especially for those with limited mobility. 💪🏾 You don’t need to be on the floor to work that core, strength can be built from anywhere.

Keep moving, no matter what! Click the 🔗 in our for the Movement Matters Activity Tracker and more ways to keep moving.
#Movementmatters #Blackwomenshealth #BWHI #TheImperative
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Happy Monday, sis! 💜

As you start this week, don’t forget to include yourself in the list of things you need to take care of. We’re always busy looking after everything and everyone else, but you deserve some time too. Whether it’s taking a moment for yourself, fitting in that workout, or just resting, make sure you prioritize your health and happiness.

This week, let’s take it one step at a time, show up for ourselves, and make room for self-care. You got this! 💪🏾

🔁 : @robdanceofficial

#SelfCare #MondayMotivation #PrioritizeYou #BlackWomenWellness #YouMatter
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Pride Month is more than a celebration. It’s a call to action to address the unique health challenges Black LGBTQ+ individuals face—from higher rates of mental health struggles to ongoing disparities in HIV care and access to affirming healthcare.

We all have a role in breaking the silence, challenging stigma, and making sure care is equitable, respectful, and rooted in dignity.
#pridemonth #BWHI #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative
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Alice Walker once said, “You have to take time to heal yourself, to take care of yourself. To do the things that replenish you. And you are able to give out of the fullness of yourself and not out of your poverty.” 💜

As a Black woman, this resonates deeply. For so long, we’ve been taught to pour into everyone else without considering our own needs. But taking the time to rest, to nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits, is not selfish, it’s necessary.

Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Whether it’s a quiet moment with a book, a long nap, a walk in nature, or a simple breath of fresh air—we deserve to replenish ourselves so we can give from a place of fullness, not depletion. 🙌🏾

Taking care of our health isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving. Our bodies are our temples, and we need to honor them with rest, self-care, and love.

#RestIsRevolutionary #SelfCare #BlackWomenWellness #BlackWomensHealth #BWHI #TheImperative
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Strength training isn’t just about building muscle—it’s about building stronger bones, especially as we enter menopause. 💪🏾 As we age, our bones can become more vulnerable to conditions like osteoporosis, but strength training can help protect us from that!

For Black women, it’s even more important because we’re at a higher risk for bone health issues. Lifting weights helps not only with building muscle but also with increasing bone density, improving balance, and reducing the risk of fractures. So let’s make strength training a part of our routine—it’s never too late to take charge of our health and build a foundation of strength for the future!

🙌🏾🙌🏾 @juliet.peterkin

Check on your bone health today! Take the @bonehealthandosteoporosis (BHOF) quiz to learn your risk, 🔗 in our bio.

#BoneHealth #OsteoporosisPrevention #osteoporosisawareness #bonehealth #blackwomenshealth #BWHI #TheImperative
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Free birth control? Yes, sis. The BWHI Opill Access Fund is open!

We’re offering a 3-month supply of Opill at no cost to you, especially if you are navigating tough moments, facing financial hardship, gaps in access to reproductive care, or just need support. We're here for you!

Apply now and take one step closer to the care you deserve. Link in bio.
#BWHI #OpillAccessFund #ReproductiveFreedom #BirthControlForAll
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Shoutout to Los Angeles County for making a huge move, eliminating medical debt for over 130,000 residents! 🙌🏾This is a massive step in the right direction, making healthcare more accessible and easing the burden for many.

Medical debt has been one of the biggest challenges for so many, and seeing this change gives hope that we’re moving toward a future where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

#MedicalDebtRelief #HealthcareForAll #BlackWomensHealth #AccessToCare #TheImperative #BWHI
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Shoutout to @doctor.darien for finally explaining blood pressure in a way we can actually understand! 🙌🏾 No more confusion, no more medical jargon, just clear, real talk. We deserve healthcare that speaks to us, not over us.

Now we know exactly what to look out for and how to keep our health in check. 🩺💜Thanks for breaking it down for us, doc! #BloodPressureAwareness #HealthIsWealth #BlackWomenHealth #TheImperative #BWHI
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Being a Black woman in today’s health system can feel like an uphill battle, but our health is imperative! 💪🏾💖 Shout out to @joyafteralopecia for sharing her powerful health journey and reminding us of the importance of advocating for ourselves. 🙌🏾

Having a village of women who support and uplift you makes all the difference. We deserve care that listens, understands, and truly prioritizes our well-being.

👉🏾Join the challenge: Whether through art, poetry, design, or spoken word, show us what Black women’s health means to you. Share your original work with us and tag @blkwomenshealth for a chance to be featured on our platforms. Let’s come together and show the world why our health is our business.

#BlackWomensHealth #BWHI #TheImperative
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Menstrual Hygiene Day is here, and it’s time to break the silence around menstruation! 💜Observed every year on May 28th, it raises awareness about the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, challenges the stigma, and fights for better access to menstrual products and sanitation.

We are excited to continue the powerful energy of BWHI’s documentary, "Me Period"—a deep dive into how we, as Black women, navigate these sensitive conversations about our bodies and our periods. Through the voices of everyday Black families and celebrity mothers like Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tabitha Brown, this documentary shines a light on the beauty and complexity of our menstrual health journey.

As you’ve been requesting, "Me Period" is now available to host your own screenings! 🙌🏾 Click the link in our bio to learn more! #MePeriod #BWHI #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative
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Join us at The Exhale Summit: an all-expenses-paid* advocacy experience built for and by Black women ready to challenge Big Tobacco, reclaim our narratives, and envision a smoke-free future.

🖤 Learn how the commercial tobacco & vape industries target us
🖤 Build skills in advocacy, organizing & storytelling
🖤 Connect with national leaders & changemakers
🖤 Discover what a soft, smoke-free life can really feel like

📅 June 22–25, 2025
📍 Baton Rouge, LA
✍🏾 Registration closes June 3 → 🔗 in our bio
🗣 Open to attendees ages 18-30

This is more than a summit. It’s a movement. It’s healing. It’s power. It's strength.

Let’s breathe new life into our future. 💨✨

*Travel and lodging included; some exclusions may apply.*
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Today, we honor Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez, a true trailblazer, hero and the first Black female officer in U.S. military history to die in combat.

March 5, 2025, a memorandum was issued requiring the removal of all DoD news, photos, and videos promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), including the video documenting why Emily chose to serve in the Army and in combat. This erasure is a stark reminder of how often important stories like Emily's are hidden. But let’s make sure her legacy is never forgotten.

Emily graduated from West Point, a leader and a beacon of strength, commitment, and resilience—a young woman who bravely served in Iraq, where she tragically lost her life to an I.E.D. on September 12, 2006.

Born in Heidelberg, Germany into a military family, Emily’s journey was one of leadership, service, and dedication. From being the captain of her high school track team to founding an HIV/AIDS program and working with the Red Cross, Emily’s heart was always committed to giving back. At West Point, she made history again as the first Black female cadet Brigade Command Sergeant Major, breaking barriers and leading by example in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

As we remember Emily, let’s continue to honor her life and legacy—not just as a military hero, but as a trailblazer who paved the way for future generations. Her story should never be erased. #BlackWomenLead #BWHI #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative
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For too long, Black women and countless others have suffered through in-office gynecological procedures like IUD insertions and cervical biopsies with nothing more than ibuprofen and white knuckles. 😔 Pain is complex and personal—what’s minor for one person can be excruciating for another. Yet, many clinicians fail to offer proper pain management because they believe it’s unnecessary.

Women have been speaking up and change is coming. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released new recommendations highlighting the urgent need for better pain management during cervical and uterine procedures. They’re calling for upfront conversations with patients about pain and offering options like paracervical blocks to manage discomfort.

#BlackWomensHealth #BWHI #TheImperative
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It’s graduation season, and we are beyond excited to celebrate this incredible young lady! 🎓✨ She’s earned over 20 awards, 20 medals and has been awarded $1M in scholarships—what an amazing accomplishment! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

Her hard work, dedication, and perseverance are truly inspiring. #graduationseason #Bwhi #TheImperative
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Our hearts go out to Sheinelle Jones of the Today Show as she navigates the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Uche Ojeh.

During this incredibly difficult time, we want to send her and her family all of our love. May you find comfort in the cherished memories you shared and the love surrounding you.

Sheinelle, we stand with you in this time of grief and honor the life of Uche Ojeh. #SendingLove #StrengthAndHealing #BWHI #TheImperative
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Proposed cuts to Medicaid will terminate healthcare for millions of Black Americans who need it most. Rushing these cuts will hurt those who can least afford care, bankrupt families, and will do nothing to lower our health care costs.

Congress is moving too far, too fast — proposing over $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid, a program nearly one-third of Black Americans rely on for health insurance and access to life-saving care. This includes:

More than 8 million Black children
Millions of Black adults with chronic conditions
1.1 million Black seniors
Black mothers

These cuts won’t just hurt individuals — they’ll devastate families and communities already burdened by a healthcare system that often fails to meet their needs.

If you’re passionate about fighting Medicaid cuts, we’ve got something for you to be a part of. Join the Cost & Coverage Collaborative today and make your voice heard!

👉🏾 Link in our bio to get involved and continue the fight for health equity and change! 💪🏾
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