Uplifting the Voices of Marginalized Black Communities: Exploring Perspectives on Peace.

INTRODUCTION

Peace is a key determinant of health, especially for marginalized populations facing racism, socioeconomic inequities, and chronic stress. This study explored how Black adults define and experience peace to inform culturally grounded, equity-focused health interventions.

METHODS

As part of the community-engaged Nurses4BlackWellbeing project, 482 Black adults from a low-income community responded to the open-ended question, "What is peace?" via written or verbal formats. Inductive content analysis was conducted using NVivo.

RESULTS

Four interconnected categories emerged: (a) peace as an inner state of harmony and emotional balance; (b) peace as freedom from racism, violence, and unmet needs; (c) peace as enjoyment of good things in life; and (d) peace as engagement with spirituality.

DISCUSSION: Peace is a multifaceted, culturally meaningful concept for Black adults. Promoting peace through structural change, relational support, and spiritual engagement may foster well-being. Findings can guide strength-based, culturally relevant interventions and policies to reduce health disparities.