Rising Child Mortality Rate Hits Black Children Harder

By Jennifer Porter Gore | Word In Black Overview: Data shows that from 2013 to 2020, Black children are far more likely to die from things like drug overdoses, homicide or accidents than white children — a sharp reversal of a disparity that had been narrowing. (WIB) – Over the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed an growing, alarming trend: higher death rates among children. Data show preventable deaths — including homicide, drug overdoses, motor vehicle accidents and suicide — are driving the increase.  Now, a new study shows Black youths are bearing the brunt of the increase in deaths of youths ages 1 to 19.& LEARN MORE: For Black Kids, Gun Violence Is an Education Issue, Too The study, conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and published May 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that, between 2014 and 2020 mortality rates jumped 36.7% in Black youth, compared to 4.7% in white youth.& It’s a sharp reversal for the age group, which had seen death rates decline for decades.& Dr. Elizabeth Wolf, lead author of the study said the trend is reversing the decades-long progress made in pediatric care.  “Once...