The foundation of modern racial categories and implications for research on black/white disparities in health.

The persistence of black/white disparities in health outcomes has led some to question the approaches public health, biomedical and clinical researchers use to classify, describe, and analyze race. Although these fields appear ready for the emergence of new strategies for studying race, they must first develop a solid understanding of the historical bases for the concept. This article adds to the health disparities discourse by explaining the...