SWEAT EQUITY: The Untold Cost
is a powerful documentary that illuminates the unique journeys of gym owners of color as they navigate the $100 billion fitness industry. This film delves deep into their stories, highlighting the immense challenges they face and the extraordinary resilience they exhibit in overcoming adversity.
Despite owning the fewest number of businesses and facing significant economic barriers, people of color are making remarkable strides in the fitness world. These trailblazers are not just gym owners; they are community leaders and health advocates, committed to improving the well-being of their neighborhoods and inspiring the next generation of wellness professionals.
The leading causes of death among African Americans predominantly include preventable diseases, with heart disease, cancer, strokes, and diabetes being the most prevalent.
The documentary will also highlight disparities in business ownership among African Americans as a whole. While Atlanta boasts the third-highest rate of Black-owned businesses in the nation at 7%, the national average for minority-owned businesses stands at just 2.5%. Furthermore, over 40% of these businesses are concentrated in reactive healthcare sectors such as ambulatory health services, home health care, hospital staffing, and social assistance. This contrasts sharply with underrepresentation in proactive health industries like fitness and wellness, which are crucial for preventing the chronic diseases that disproportionately affect this community.