Protectors, Providers, and Patients: What We Heard from Black Men About Health, Trust, and HPV

In December, ACESWorld partnered with Creating Healthier Communities to host a small focus group with Black men in Georgia. The goal was straightforward: to listen. We wanted to better understand how Black men think about health, masculinity, and HPV, and how those perspectives shape decisions about vaccines and prevention.

What we heard was layered, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable. And that’s exactly why it mattered.

Health Is More Than Doctor Visits

When the conversation started, the men didn’t talk about doctors or prescriptions. They talked about discipline. Diet. Exercise. Fasting. Prayer. Managing stress. Showing up for family.

For many of the men, staying healthy wasn’t about living longer for themselves, it was about being able to provide and protect. Children, spouses, and aging parents came up again and again. Health was framed as a responsibility.

That framing matters. It’s very different from how public health messages often speak to Black men rather than with them.

Distrust Was Personal

As the conversation moved toward healthcare, the tone shifted. Several men shared stories about doctors pushing medication too quickly, not listening, or dismissing concerns. Others talked about bad reactions to flu or COVID-19 vaccines that left a lasting impression.

The distrust wasn’t abstract or ideological; it was personal. One participant said that when a doctor starts pushing medication, that’s when trust breaks. Another said flat out that vaccines aren’t something he trusts for his body, even if they might prevent cancer.

Those statements can be hard to hear. But ignoring them doesn’t make them go away.

HPV Was Largely Unknown

Before the session, nearly all the men had little to no knowledge about HPV or its link to cancers in men. When that information was shared, the reaction was shock, but not immediate acceptance.

Instead, many participants questioned why they hadn’t heard this before. Some asked for data. Others pushed back on the idea that vaccination should be the focus at all.

What stood out wasn’t resistance to information; it was resistance to being pushed.

Messaging Matters

When asked how public health should communicate with Black men, the group was clear: don’t lead with vaccines. Lead with risk. Lead with lifestyle. Lead with values.

Several men talked about moral responsibility, family, and behavior change. One participant said that if a conversation gets to “you need this vaccine,” then something has already gone wrong.

They also emphasized who delivers the message. Many said they’d rather talk to Black doctors or trusted community figures than be spoken at by institutions that haven’t earned trust.

How This Conversation Shaped Our Approach

This focus group reinforced that health decisions do not happen in isolation. Black men often play a critical role in how families understand risk, talk about prevention, and decide when to seek care. While the HPV vaccine remains an important tool, the conversation made clear that effective cancer prevention must also prioritize trust, agency, and access to information.

As a result, ACESWorld refined its strategy. We continue to promote the Learn and Decide HPV decision-making tool, while expanding our focus to include awareness of an FDA-approved at-home HPV test for women. Emphasizing knowledge of one’s HPV status offers a practical, low-barrier entry point into prevention—particularly in communities where clinical systems are viewed with skepticism.

By focusing on early awareness rather than immediate medical intervention, this approach supports informed decision-making and encourages women who test positive to engage more consistently in recommended screening. Early detection increases the likelihood that disease is identified when it is most treatable, helping to reduce deaths from preventable cervical cancer. This shift reflects our commitment to public health strategies that are grounded in lived experience, culturally responsive, and centered on empowering families to protect their health.