Dying While Black: Colorblind Policies and Eliminating the Slave Health Deficit February 26, 2009 Copyright © 2007 Vernellia R. Randall. All Rights Reserved. Contact: Dying While Black Black Health Status Vernellia Randall, JD Professor School of Law The University of Dayton Feb. 23, 2011 Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall1

Black Population36,419,434 Black Death Rate1,039 per 100,000 population per year Black Actual Deaths378,325 White Death Rate797 per 100,000 population per year Black Projected Deaths with White Rate 290,409 Black "EXCESS" Deaths87,917 Percent Additional Deaths30% Feb. 23, 2011Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall2

White Population216,930,975 White Death Rate797 per 100,000 population per year White Actual Deaths1,729,808 Black Death Rate1,039 per 100,000 population per year White Projected Deaths with Black Rate2,253,479 White “Deficit" Deaths523,671 Percent Additional Deaths30% 2008 World Health Organization and 2008 Health, United States Feb. 23, 2011Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall3

Life Expectancy - Males RankStateYears 1 San Marino80 2 Japan79 9 Canada78 30 Cuba76 White American Male76 35 Chile75 44 Barbados72 57 Bahamas71 75 Jamaica69 Black American Male69 Feb. 23, 2011Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall4

Life Expectancy 2008 World Health Organization and 2008 Health, United States Females RankStateYears 1 Japan86 4 Switzerland84 9 Canada83 29 United Kingdom81 White American Female81 33 Cuba80 39 Barbados79 46 Bosnia and Herzegovina78 55 Bahamas77 Black American Female77 Feb. 23, 2011 Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall 5

2008 World Health Organization and 2008 Health, United States Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000 live births) RankStateRate 1 Iceland2 2 Japan3 17 Switzerland4 27 Cuba5 White American Chile8 58 Barbados11 65 Bahamas13 Black American13.6 Feb. 23, 20116Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall

Neonatal Mortality Rate (per 1000 live births) RankStateRate 1 Japan1 4 Andorra2 16 Canada3 White American Cuba4 51 Ukraine7 58 Barbados8 62 Cape Verde9 Black American9.2 Feb. 23, 20117Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall

Maternal Deaths per live births Feb. 23, 20118Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall 1 Ireland1 2 Sweden3 21 Canada7 30 New Zealand9 White American Bulgaria11 45 Bahamas16 45 Barbados16 56 Costa Rica30 Black American31.7

Low Birth Weight Newborns (percent) Feb. 23, 20119Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall RankStateRate 1 Albania 3 3 Sweden 4 21 Cuba 6 40 Bahamas 7 White American Rwanda 9 90 Barbados Ghana Uganda Tanzania 13 Black American13.6

Dying While Black: Colorblind Policies and Eliminating the Slave Health Deficit February 26, 2009 Copyright © 2007 Vernellia R. Randall. All Rights Reserved. Contact: Distinguishing Race from Class Is Race an Issue? Control for class by comparing people of the same class but different race Middle Class Blacks have a shorter life expectancy than Middle Class Whites Is Class an Issue? Control for race by comparing people of the same race but different class Poor Blacks have a shorter life expectancy than Middle class Blacks.  Race is a social construction that has biological consequences primarily because of : Social isolation Racism Feb. 23, 2011Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall10

Race not Class Alone Akron Beacon Journal Low income whites live +3 years longer than low income blacks Middle income whites live +10 years longer than middle income blacks Feb. 23, 2011Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall11 Statistics from Health, United States 2008

Race not Class Alone Feb. 23, 2011Black Health Status Professor Vernellia Randall12 Low Birth Weight, 2005 Black White Less than 12 years of education years of education year or more of Education Blacks with 13 years of education 12.4 Whites less than 12 years 7.3 Statistics from Health, United States 2008 In short, in the area of low birth weight, low income whites have better rates than middle income blacks. This dynamic is present in many areas of black life.