RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky civil rights activist has fought for equal rights his entire life, ever since he was 13 years old. 

Now, 70 years later, he’s fighting for rights in the medical field.

At 83, Charles Neblett of Russellville has lived a life of advocating for the rights of others after he heard about the death of Emmitt Till. 

“He was unrecognizable when they pulled him out of that river,” Neblett said. “That’s the first time I’ve seen a picture like that of a dead person. And due to the fact that we were the same age, I said, ‘That same thing could happen to me.’ And something needed to be done about it.”

Neblett began speaking out against racism and prejudice while in college. He later founded a band known as the Freedom Singers, who sang songs supporting equal rights.

The band became a hit, with posters of them advertising their concerts as they traveled. Neblett became such a notable activist, he met with and sung for former President Barack Obama.

However, his form of activism has now taken a different path. Neblett has Stage 4 prostate cancer, and he and his family said they hope to promote trust among African Americans to get tested for the disease. 

“The historical distrust in the medical industry is even keeping African American men from even coming in and getting that information,” said Kwesi Neblett, Charles’ son. 

According to Prostate Cancer UK, one in four Black men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, which is two to four times higher than other racial groups.

The Neblett family is also advocating for more health care coverage and said they have to pay out-of-pocket bills for treatment.

“Now, the average cost of getting treated annually is around ($92,000-93,000) a year,” Kwesi Neblett said. 

Charles said he thinks the best way to ensure better health care coverage starts at the ballot box and voting people in who will bring down those numbers.

“We have to deal with that,” Charles said.