The disparity in infant mortality rate between whites and Afro-Americans is twofold. The disparity in rates of prostatic cancer between Afro-Americans and Caucasians is unacceptable. The trends in heart disease among ethnic groups and rich and poor should be reduced. We told women that if they smoked like men they would die like men. To increase the quality of life we need to think boldly about reducing poverty and its health consequences.
Poverty is a pervasive factor in accentuating all aspects of poor health.
We despair too lightly at doing something about this basic inequity. Years ago in observing the development of children being reared in poverty we observed what we called developmental attrition. We also showed that this could be prevented. These observations formed the basis for the Head Start program which I had the privilege of directing. All children should be entitled to be raised in an environment which permits them to be ready for school.