Emergent Health Communication Scholarship from and about African American, Latino/a/x, and American Indian/Alaskan Native Peoples INTRODUCTION

It is a privilege and honor to welcome you to this special issue of Health Communication which is based on scholarship that advances various divergent health issues pertinent to African American, Latino/a/x, and American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) peoples. The vision for this special issue which is a microcosm of the impactful research literature emerging from our field by Black, Latino/a/x, and American Indian peoples was to call attention to and acknowledge the breath of theoretically grounded and methodologically appropriate research in health communication. The 16 original articles featured in this issue reflect a robust compilation of topics from medical mistrust to tribal and elder leaders as health communicators and health promoters. The vision for the issue is that these articles serve as a platform that starts a meaningful and needed dialog within the field of health communication about the need for accessible and diverse scholarship from often-absent voices and/or narratives.

Automated summary

This special issue of Health Communication focuses on advancing various health issues relevant to African American, Latino/a/x, and American Indian/Alaskan Native peoples. The 16 original articles included cover diverse topics such as medical mistrust and the role of tribal and elder leaders in health communication and promotion. The goal is to initiate a dialog within the field about the importance of accessible and diverse scholarship from underrepresented voices.