The battle many African-Americans are fighting now is their health. More blacks die each year from heart disease and many other ailments than whites, but one African-American organization in Charleston is working to narrow the health gap between the two.

James Patterson is the president of the Partnership of African-American Churches. His organization works to educate African-Americans about their health.

“It's important that the individual as well as the community are educated, and understand what their particular part in terms to make these conditions better,” said Patterson.

According to the CDC, the top five leading causes of death of African-Americans are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and accidents. Many of the five causes of death are preventable.

The partnership of African-American churches holds health seminars to teach people how to live healthier.

“We would hope that people learn a great deal more about their own their personal health and about health in general and what's necessary for them to have good health,” said Patterson.

Education is power when it comes to your health. The president of the partnership of African-American churches says the organization plans to expand its health programs next year.