ABSTRACT
The disadvantaged health experience of Afr ican Americans ( A A ) has been carefully documented (Livingston, 1994). Compared to Caucasians ( C A ) , A A have a higher prevalence of stroke, hypertension, glaucoma, and kidney disease. Aside from frequency, illness severity, as indicated by associated mortality, is often higher in A A than C A as well. The death rate from infant mortality, heart disease, cirrhosis, diabetes, asthma, and stroke is 50% to 150% greater in A A than C A . A A also experience substantially higher death rate for cancer and death by homicide.
