Decades of Data Show Deadly Gap for Black Children

April 18, 2025

A major new analysis of U.S. mortality data from 1950 to 2019 reveals persistent racial disparities in child mortality, with Black children dying at approximately twice the rate of white children throughout the entire period. The comprehensive study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by researchers from Harvard, Yale, and other institutions, documented over half a million preventable infant deaths and nearly 690,000 childhood deaths among Black Americans over the seven decades. Despite overall improvements in life expectancy for both racial groups, the mortality gap for infants and children has actually widened since the 1950s, with Black infants in the 2010s dying at a rate of 1,073 per 100,000 compared to 499 per 100,000 for white infants.

Who is affected

Black infants and children in the United States who face twice the mortality risk of their white counterparts
Black Americans of all ages who experienced an estimated 5.02 million excess deaths and 173.6 million years of life lost over the seven decades
Black communities facing systemic disadvantages in housing, healthcare access, and socioeconomic opportunities
Families of the nearly 690,000 Black children who died but might have survived with equal opportunities
Black Americans who lost 20.6 million years of life in the 2010s alone due to higher death rates

What action is being taken

Researchers are conducting comprehensive analyses of mortality data spanning seven decades to document racial disparities
The study is identifying leading causes of excess deaths by age group, finding that perinatal conditions primarily affect children under five while homicides and accidents dominate for those aged 5-19
Researchers are calculating the precise extent of mortality disparities, showing the Black-white infant mortality ratio increased from 1.92 in the 1950s to 2.15 in the 2010s
The study is documenting the ongoing impacts of systemic racism and structural inequities on Black children's survival rates

Why it matters

The study reveals that despite medical advancements and public health initiatives, Black children remain twice as likely to die before adulthood as white children
The findings demonstrate that racial disparities in child mortality have persisted or worsened over seven decades, contradicting assumptions about progress
The research quantifies the enormous human cost: over half a million preventable infant deaths and nearly 690,000 childhood deaths among Black Americans
The persistent disparities reflect ongoing systemic racism in housing, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice
The study provides evidence that being Black in America continues to be associated with less wealth, lower income, and reduced access to health services, directly impacting child mortality
The findings serve as a call to action for policy interventions and structural reforms to address these longstanding inequities

What's next

The researchers call for urgent policy interventions to address these disparities, including expanded access to quality health care
The study advocates for targeted public health initiatives and structural reforms to reduce socioeconomic inequities
The authors recommend greater healthcare quality outcomes and data reporting transparency
Researchers suggest that examining more recent data, including the COVID-19 pandemic period, may reveal even greater disparities
No explicit next steps stated in the article regarding implementation of specific programs or initiatives

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint