African-Americans suffer disproportionately to their percentage of the population from ill health and poor or non-existent medical care. Because health and illness are related to social status, only a change in economic and social policies will remedy the sorrowful health and care situation carefully detailed and substantiated in this book.

Reed and his colleagues identify and show the enormity of the several health problems of particular concern to the black population. These include adverse birth outcomes, increasing cancer rates, lead poisoning, and the high rate of homicide among African-Americans. Sickle Cell Anemia with its special problems for the black community is addressed, as is the widespread use of alcohol and other substances. Finally, the AIDS epidemic's impact on the African-American population is described and the implications stated. The authors leave no doubt that decisive action is warranted on a large scale.