Singer-songwriter Muni Long, known for her soulful hits, recently shared her ongoing battle with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that disrupts her life in unexpected ways. Though she graces stages with effortless vocals, behind the scenes, she copes with symptoms that can range from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating flare-ups.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Long revealed that lupus often manifests in her skin, sometimes turning her fingertips blue or making her complexion unusually pale. “I’ll start looking super white, which is strange because I’m brown-skinned. But my skin literally turns a light, ashy color,” she explained.
Lupus disproportionately affects Black women, with around 1 in 250 developing the condition in their lifetime. The disease’s severity varies, but for Long, certain episodes are so intense that they interfere with her professional commitments. A recent flare-up forced her to cancel her scheduled performance at the College Football Playoff event on January 18.
Even when she’s able to perform, precautions are necessary. During her time as an opener on Chris Brown’s 11:11 Tourlast summer, she had to be mindful of her environment to avoid triggering symptoms. “I always ask for the air conditioning to be turned off when I arrive. It’s not about being a diva—I just know that if I get too cold, I’ll start coughing and won’t be able to sing,” she shared. After each performance, she follows a strict routine: wrapping herself in blankets and steaming her voice to prevent complications.
Beyond the physical toll, Long highlighted the challenges Black women face in the healthcare system, particularly when seeking medical care. She described feeling dismissed when expressing her pain to doctors. “They don’t believe you,” she said. “I’ll tell them I’m in a lot of pain, and they’ll just send me for blood work. But that takes a week to get results. Meanwhile, I’m in excruciating pain, asking if there’s anything they can do. And suddenly, they’re making notes in my file, as if I’m just seeking medication.”
Her frustration echoes the broader disparities in healthcare for Black women, who often struggle to have their concerns taken seriously. For Long, navigating the healthcare system while managing a chronic illness has been a battle of its own.
Despite the hardships, she remains committed to her music and her health, continuously finding ways to balance both. By speaking out, she hopes to raise awareness about lupus and the unique struggles Black women face in receiving proper medical care.
