The pursuit of equity in health: Reflections on race and public health data in southern Africa

The United States shares with Zimbabwe and South Africa a history of racial subjugation. A revision of the US racial classification to allow membershi p in more than one group means race may no longer be an exclusive character istic. These issues also have been debated in southern Africa. In this commentary, the author reviews race classification in southern Afri ca and the use of race-specific public hearth data. Comparisons of illness and death rates across race groups have shown the hearth consequences of Wh ite privilege and Black disadvantage. But current public health data are no t divided by race. The consequences of this policy are discussed.