By Rabiah Alicia Burks

More than 135 million African Americans are overweight, and many also suffer from preventable diseases such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
   On Saturday, hundreds of Oakland residents gathered at Lake Merritt to address these problems and pledge their support to Dr. Ian Smith’s 50 Million Pound Challenge, a national campaign encouraging African Americans to lose excess weight and lead healthier lives as a collective community.
    Smith, host of VH1’s hit show “Celebrity Fit Club,” emceed the free event with comedian J. Anthony Brown. Legendary rap artist and DJ Biz Markie performed his classic “Just a Friend” while encouraging people to register for the challenge.
    Other performers included R&B singer Raheem De- Vaughn, rap icon Slick Rick, Baron Davis and R&B/gospel singer Kelly Price.
    “Oakland is going to be the healthiest city in the United States of America,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who also attended the event. “We are all working for a healthy community and a healthy city.”
    As one of many African American women who has battled against being overweight and won, Price stood as a proud example of healthy lifestyle choices as she performed a number of her hits.
    “I am involved because this is a movement that is not just for me,” said Price. “This is not about press or publicity; this is about something that I have lived every day of my life.

    “I was the fat kid that turned into the fat adult. This is about a lifestyle change and not a diet. It is about deciding that you are going to do better every single day so that you can live longer.”
    When DeVaughn stepped up to the podium, much of the mostly female audience ran to the stage hoping to get as close as possible to the star.
   “It is great to be here sharing the stage with Kelly Price, Slick Rick, Biz Markie,” said DeVaughn. “The biggest challenge for us as individuals is to love ourselves. Whether you are trying to lose 20 pounds or whether you are just trying to become a better person on a daily basis, I think that’s what I want to bring to the table, something I can do to challenge myself.”
    The State Farm Insurancesponsored event offered attendees free weigh-ins and blood pressure and body composition screenings.
    For more information, visit www.50millionpounds.com.

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