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 membership in more than one group means race may no longer be an exclusive characteristic. These issues also have been debated in southern Africa. In this commentary, the author reviews race classification in southern Africa and the use of race-specific public health data. Comparisons of illness and death rates across race groups have shown the health consequences of White privilege and Black disadvantage. But current public health data are not divided by race. The consequences of this policy are discussed.