The Hidden Cost of Hustle for Black Men

In 2020, Mike Black, a successful businessman who runs a well-established software company and recruiting agency, decided to become homeless to prove he could become a millionaire in a year while living in Austin, Texas. Fast forward 10 months—he stopped the experiment.

According to MoneyTalksNews, Mike said he was exhausted physically and developed two serious autoimmune diseases while making less than $65,000 in revenue.

Mike had all the privileges of being a white person living in the US, plus financial literacy and a backpack full of knowledge about pitching clients and negotiating deals, including an armor of financial stabilizers like premium health insurance and an active cellphone. Despite this, he could only hustle in the streets of Texas for 10 months. He could go back to his former life at any point, and he did.

Many Black men don’t have the luxury of choice or the time frame to hustle.

Being a good provider as a Black man means showing up for the hustle almost every day, even when your body is exhausted. Hustling means that while many are sleeping, we take night shifts, cover extra hours, and work overtime. Why? Because bills are already piling up, and it ain’t waiting any longer, brotha.

While white men enjoy the “White Privileges,” Black men suffer entrepreneurship barriers, not because we lack entrepreneurial drive, but because of business disparities that have long existed against Black people in the US.

According to the County of San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and Brookings, systemic racism and discrimination, lack of access to capital, and lack of networking opportunities and mentorship limit access to support and resources, which is why Black men don’t succeed in business. As a result, we work 10 times as hard just to catch up to their white counterparts.

In the entire US, LendingTree reports that only 3.4% of all businesses in the US are owned by Blacks. In places like Salt Lake City, that figure is as low as 0.5%.

By the time the paycheck comes, our body may already be paying the price. The increased shifts, workload, disrupted sleep, and long working hours are some of the reasons for increased cases of type 2 diabetes among Black men, according to the National Library of Medicine. Is this worth the price of making a living?

When Your Body Clock Fights Your Work Schedule

If you have taken time to observe the human body, you’ll notice it operates on a natural 24-hour rhythm called the circadian rhythm. It helps regulate hormone production, appetite, sleep, body temperature, and glucose processing.

Since 17.2% of Black adults in the US work overnight across sectors like transportation, healthcare, and protective services, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 54% face sleep disruption, as reported by the National Institutes of Health, the reason for the increased rate of type 2 diabetes is not far-fetched.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that shift work is linked to diabetes. Repeated sleep disruption can impair insulin sensitivity, altering how the body responds to insulin and raising blood sugar levels, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Possible warning signs include:

Slow healing cuts or sore
Frequent infection
Blurred vision
Persistent fatigue
Increased thirst or hunger
Frequent rumination
Unexpected weight loss

Protecting Your Health When Quitting Is Not an Option

Telling a Black brotha to quit his job because it disrupts his sleep is laughable. How will he support the mountain of financial responsibility for himself and his household?

While we hope for better working conditions for Black men in the US, a present realistic approach is to reduce risk as much as possible. Here are a few ways:

Protect your sleep.

As much as possible, aim for 7 to 10 hours of sleep every 24 hours. To help you achieve this, keep your sleeping environment dark, quiet, and cool. Use blackout curtains, earplugs, and silence your phone when you are ready to sleep.

As much as possible, avoid repeatedly sacrificing sleep just to accommodate other responsibilities.

Plan meals before the shift.

Planning can help reduce reliance on whatever food is available at work. When you go to work, carry meals with vegetables, eggs, beans, whole grains, fish, meat, and other protein- and fiber-rich foods.

Make water one of your buddies, and limit sugary drinks.

Move regularly.

I’m not saying you have to pay for an expensive gym membership to do some exercise. A simple walk, a short movement break, and stretching work magic for managing stress.

Be careful with Caffeine and energy drinks.

For many, caffeine is the go-to drink for temporary alertness, but too much can worsen sleep disruption. Avoid energy drinks hours before planned sleep.

Know your numbers

Don’t wait until you feel seriously unwell to check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and other relevant health indicators.

Ask your healthcare provider how often you should screen based on your age.

A Paycheck Should Not Cost You Your Future

As a Black man, it is a worthwhile goal to provide for yourself and your family, build your career, and aspire to financial stability. Nothing about any of these is wrong, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of your health. Health on its own is wealth.

Unfortunately, some Black men equate exhaustion with strength, which is why we ignore warning signs until it is too late.

There is dignity in labor. However, we must remember that proper sleep isn’t laziness, medical screening isn’t weakness, and rest isn’t a luxury for people who have finished all their responsibilities. You can be a responsible husband, father, uncle, brother, and still take your health seriously.

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