Racial and ethnic disparities in health care are known to reflect access to care and other issues that arise from differing socioeconomic conditions. There is, however, increasing evidence that even after such differences are accounted for, race and ethnicity remain significant predictors of the quality of health care received. In Unequal Treatment, a panel of experts documents this evidence and explores how persons of color experience the health care environment. The book examines how disparities in treatment may arise in health care systems and looks at aspects of the clinical encounter that may contribute to such disparities. Patients' and providers' attitudes, expectations, and behavior are analyzed. How to intervene? Unequal Treatment offers recommendations for improvements in medical care financing, allocation of care, availability of language translation, community-based care, and other arenas. The committee highlights the potential of cross-cultural education to improve provider-patient communication and offers a detailed look at how to integrate cross-cultural learning within the health professions. The book concludes with recommendations for data collection and research initiatives. Unequal Treatment will be vitally important to health care policymakers, administrators, providers, educators, and students as well as advocates for people of color.

In the aftermath of the 60s “Black is Beautiful” movement and publication of The Color Complex almost thirty years later the issue of skin color has mushroomed onto the world stage of social science. Such visibility has inspired publication of the Melanin Millennium for insuring that the discourse on skin color meet the highest standards of accuracy and objective investigation. This volume addresses the issue of skin color in a worldwide context. A virtual visit to countries that have witnessed a huge rise in the use of skin whitening products and facial feature surgeries aiming for a more Caucasian-like appearance will be taken into account. The book also addresses the question of whether using the laws has helped to redress injustices of skin color discrimination, or only further promoted recognition of its divisiveness among people of color and Whites. The Melanin Millennium has to do with now and the future. In the 20th century science including eugenics was given to and dominated by discussions of race category. Heretofore there remain social scientists and other relative to the issue of skin color loyal to race discourse. However in their interpretation and analysis of social phenomena the world has moved on. Thus while race dominated the 20th century the 21st century will emerge as a global community dominated by skin color and making it the melanin millennium.

"This book presents a series of insightful discussions centered around the concept of identity as the key to understanding how racial minorities define reality, experience changes in racial consciousness, and perceive themselves and the world around them. This volume brings together many influential thinkers, writers, scholars, and researchers who tell a story that is deeply embedded in American society and still unfolding. The chapters are concise, well written, and presented in a sequence that captures the power and vision of Clark's testimony, rationale, methodology, and subsequent discoveries, which have altered the landscape of psychology. This volume is a must read for laypeople, students and professionals from a range of disciplines including psychology, social work, law, theology, ethics, sociology, and American history who will be impressed by the power and scope of the deeply probing analyses. This volume examines the continuing reality of racism but takes us beyond conceptions of "damage" to illuminate the strengths and resilience of African American culture. In a fitting tribute to Kenneth B. Clark, the contributors treat the cultural and historical context of racial identity as essential for a psychological analysis"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)

William A. James, Sr., has created a cogent book of essays that deals with a perplexing problem found among African-Americans. James calls it "The Skin Color Syndrome. His book is divided into four sections, consisting of seven chapters. Within those chapters he depicts five principles that define blacks' "intra racial hatred," a hatred based upon "Pigmentation Discrimination," as the first principle of the Skin Color Syndrome. James then discusses "Passing," and "Where Blacks Are And Where They Need To Go." He talks about "Where Blacks are headed," and then he gives " A Conclusion Of The Matter," and "The Problems We (African-Americans) Must Fix." Lastly, James offers "Kwanzaa 365 Days Per Year," as a restorative solution to the ravages of Jim Crow Law in America.

In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good-or equally poor-health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations. Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

"Treatment of Skin Disease is your definitive source for managing the complete range of dermatologic conditions you're likely to encounter in practice. This medical reference book boasts an intuitive and easy to use format that covers the full spectrum of options, equipping you with not only standard treatment strategies, but second- and third-line therapies for instances when other alternatives fail"--Publisher's website

As the population of older Americans grows, it is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. Differences in health by racial and ethnic status could be increasingly consequential for health policy and programs. Such differences are not simply a matter of education or ability to pay for health care. For instance, Asian Americans and Hispanics appear to be in better health, on a number of indicators, than White Americans, despite, on average, lower socioeconomic status. The reasons are complex, including possible roles for such factors as selective migration, risk behaviors, exposure to various stressors, patient attitudes, and geographic variation in health care. This volume, produced by a multidisciplinary panel, considers such possible explanations for racial and ethnic health differentials within an integrated framework. It provides a concise summary of available research and lays out a research agenda to address the many uncertainties in current knowledge. It recommends, for instance, looking at health differentials across the life course and deciphering the links between factors presumably producing differentials and biopsychosocial mechanisms that lead to impaired health.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

The highly anticipated update of the complete textbook of dermatologic science and practice focusing on the care of patients with moderately to heavily pigmented skin – 21 new chapters with more than 900 photographs! Dermatology for Skin of Color, Second Edition is a comprehensive reference that thoroughly details every aspect of dermatologic science as it applies to skin of color – from the development of the skin to the biology of hair and nails. All commonly encountered dermatologic problems of Africans, Asians, Arabs, Native Americans, and other peoples are covered, as are other diseases with significant skin manifestations. This second edition is significantly expanded with 21 new chapters covering dermatology for geriatric, adolescent, and pregnant patients, as well as depigmenting agents, viral infections, cutaneous manifestation of internal malignancy, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, photoaging, photosensivity, laser treatment for skin-tightening, toxins and fillers, cosmetic practices in Mexico, effects of tattooing and piercing, sickle cell disease, drug eruptions, and the biology of oral mucosa. It also features many more clinical pictures and improved organization. Extensively illustrated with more than 900 full-color photos, Dermatology for Skin of Color provides comprehensive coverage of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment options, pediatric dermatology, differences between skin of color and Caucasian skin, differences between ethnic groups with skin of color, and important basic science information on the structure and function of skin of color. In addition, folk remedies and over-the-counter treatments specifically targeting this population are covered.

A complete textbook of dermatologic science and practice focusing on the care of patients with moderately to heavily pigmented skin A Doody's Core Title for 2011! "The well-organized book is replete with clinical images and addresses the unique medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology issues that occur in skin of color. Important cultural considerations in providing optimal care to patients with skin of color are discussed. 4 Stars (Excellent)"--Mayo Clinic Proceedings "...provides readers with the first comprehensive reference for this subspecialty, ranging from the historic and cultural to the clinical and basic science components....More than 600 full-color photographs of preoperative and postoperative photographs foster the visual recognition of dermatologic diagnostics, and the text proves an excellent diagnostic reference for clinicians presented with puzzling dermatologic lesions. Dermatology for Skin of Color will be a critical and invaluable addition to the clinical reference library of any culturally competent physician."--JAMA "Excellent color clinical photographs on high quality glossy white paper make this book a pleasure to peruse....I would recommend this book to anyone caring for a multiracial mix of patients. It also serves as a good standalone general dermatology textbook. It is definitely one of the superior books currently available covering dermatology issues in patients of color. 3 Stars."--Doody's Review Service Dermatology for Skin of Color is a comprehensive reference thoroughly detailing every aspect of dermatologic science as it applies to skin of color - from the development of the skin to the biology of hair and nails. All commonly encountered dermatologic problems of Africans, Asians, Native American, and other peoples are covered as are other diseases with significant skin manifestations. For each problem/disorder discussed, the authors offer detailed, specialized advice on diagnosis and treatment methods. Both medical and surgical treatment options are discussed as is cosmetic dermatology. In addition, folk remedies and over-the-counter treatments specifically targeting this population are also covered. Features 600 superb full-color pre and post operative photographs that can also be used for patient education Clinical pearls impart the wisdom of experience of international experts Easy-to-use, standardized presentation describes each condition and procedure Comprehensive coverage that includes: Pediatric dermatology; Medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment options; ;The differences between skin of color and Caucasian skin as well as the differences between ethnic groups with skin of color ;Important basic science information on the structure and function of skin of color