Race in the health of America

Differentials in health and in effective access to health services cannot be considered apart from other dimensions of life, especially where public policy plays a large role. In some areas there has been progress, while in others discontinuities and inequities prevail. The toppling of overt barriers of racial segregation has not ensured active inclusion and full participation for many blacks. Among options for public strategy, a combined approach of consensus-building "universality" and efficient "targeting" may make for good policy and good politics.