Health and health care are distributed unevenly in this country
and minority populations often get less of both. Members of
minority communities have higher rates of chronic illnesses such
as diabetes and hypertension. They have higher rates of many
cancers and those cancers often reveal themselves at later
stages when they are harder to treat. A black male child born in
2006 will live on average to age 70, but a white male child born
the same year will live to 76. A black female child will live to
77, but a white female child will live to 81. There are no
simple reasons for these disparities and there are no simple
solutions either. This is not just about health care access, but
health care access is important. This is not just about income
and education, but income and education are important. This is
not just about social class, but social class is important. This
is not just about a history of prejudice and discrimination, but
that history, and its enduring and painful legacy, are
important. What is known