‘It’s time to fix it’: can Chicago tackle its worsening racial life expectancy gap?

Black Chicagoans live on average nine years less than other city residents - and Covid means the disparity is likely to get worse

Citing a widening life expectancy gap between Black Chicagoans and other groups in the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot last week called systemic racism a deadly" public health crisis that has exacted a devastating toll on the health and wellbeing of our residents of color" and pledged to combat inequality in the city.

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