Statistics: Death in Black And White

Through better diets and increased exercise, most Americans can look forward to longer lives. Last week, however, the National Center for Health Statistics reported a disturbing countertrend. From 1984 to 1986, the average life expectancy of whites rose from 75.3 to a record 75.4 years. But for blacks during that same period it declined, going from 69.7 to 69.4 years. A major cause: a stark increase in accidental deaths and homicides. While there are 5.6 murders among each 100,000 whites, there are a harrowing 32.4 homicides for each 100,000 blacks, up 15%. Among black males the rate is even higher: 55.9 per 100,000.