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Study: mortality rates higher for Wisconsin minorities
MADISON, Wis. — Mortality rates for blacks and American Indian residents are substantially higher than for non-Hispanic whites in every age category in the state, according to a new study by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
The study released last Wednesday noted the infant mortality rate for blacks was 17.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, or more than three times the rate for whites, and the American Indian infant mortality rate was second highest among ethnic groups in the state.
Patrick Remington, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of medicine who co-wrote the study with physician David Kindig and researcher Bridget Booske, called the rates unacceptable.
“We have been particularly focusing on the African American infant mortality rates,” Kindig said. “We know that that’s bad, and we have big challenges there.”
The state Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) said 77 percent of black infant deaths in the state from 2003 to 2005 occurred in Milwaukee.
Bevan Baker, Milwaukee’s health commissioner, said improving the health of Milwaukee County would require a long-term commitment. Root causes of unequal access to health care, such as poverty, race relations and housing, must be addressed, he said.
DHFS health officer Sheri Johnson said that, while the state is working to address race-based health disparity, “realistically, it is not at all likely that we will have eliminated racial disparities in any of the major health status areas by 2010.”
Barbara Stoddard, an official of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, said improved access to health care is a pressing need for many of the more than 1,000 American Indians served by nursing and health support services that she directs.
Charlotte mayor stands by comments on black youth
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said he stands by his recent comments about black youth despite a call from the local NAACP to apologize.
McCrory said he commented accurately when he wrote that “too many of our youth, primarily African American, are imitating and/or participating in a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action.”
His remarks came in a July 5 letter to the city manager in which McCrory congratulated police for their presence the night before, when 169 people — mostly black — were arrested in uptown Charlotte.
Ken White, president of the Charlotte branch of the NAACP, said that the mayor’s comments painted “African American youth with a broad swath that cuts deep in many of our communities.”
“Everyone is aware that black people have been saddled with many negative stereotypes,” White said. “Mr. McCrory’s comments reinforce that stereotype especially to those inclined to hold on to racist thinking and behavior.”
White said the mayor’s letter would have been fine had he not singled out black youth.
McCrory said he understands his remarks offended some people. But, citing statistics showing more than 60 percent of Charlotte’s gang members are black, McCrory said he wouldn’t write the letter any differently today.
“My role as mayor is to communicate what I consider to be concerns, and in doing so you have to step on some toes,” he said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police assigned more than 300 extra officers to the uptown area during this year’s Fourth of July celebrations, trying to curb disturbances that marred events the previous two years.
Little Rock School Board votes to mediate desegregation monitoring case
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock School Board is reaching out to an attorney who is appealing the end of desegregation monitoring in the state’s largest school district.
The panel voted 4-3 last Thursday night to instruct its attorney Chris Heller to start mediation with John Walker, who represents a group of black students and parents known as the Joshua Intervenors. Walker opposed a judge’s decision to halt court supervision of the Little Rock School District, and he is appealing that ruling to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at St. Louis.
In February, U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson Jr. ruled that the district could be released from court supervision, as it was substantially complying with a 1998 desegregation plan. Wilson ruled that the 27,000-student district had achieved unitary, or desegregated, status.
The board’s three white members argued against entering mediation. The four black members voted for it.
Walker has offered the board a settlement agreement in which the Intervenors would drop the appeal in return for certain district agreements. Heller had advised the board against signing on to Walker’s settlement agreement, but the panel directed him to begin mediation.
“I think it would work to the detriment of our students if we keep this discussion of how to improve student achievement in the hands of the lawyers,” Heller said.
Mediation is to be assisted by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals settlement director.
“I don’t know if there is ever a best route, but I know this is the best route that is before us now,” Walker said.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has said a settlement with Walker is “unnecessary.” McDaniel said last month that Walker would almost certainly lose his appeal of the order releasing the district from court supervision.
“I would think it would be malpractice to settle a case that I’ve already won,” McDaniel said then.
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