Life expectancy is down across the United States — from an average of 77 years in 2020 to 76.1 years in 2021 — with much of the drop attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. But a more troubling and persistent trend is evident in data presented this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Black Americans are expected to live much shorter lives than white, Asian and Hispanic Americans, with their average life span last year pegged at 70.8 years. In fact, Black men are consistently shorter lived than all other groups except native Alaskans (where a chronic lack of medical care is a major factor for the isolated population).

Why are Black lives so much shorter? It’s a matter of income an opportunity. The leading view is that while individual behavior can play a factor, what we’re seeing is the result of broader social trends.

For generations, in cities like Baltimore, Md., African Americans have been offered the short-end of the stick. They are more likely to be forced to live in neighborhoods with toxic environmental threats and to have less access to well-paying jobs, good schools, quality medical care and so on.

They are more likely to face housing insecurity and to live in neighborhoods with failing infrastructure and poor return on investment. Racial segregation and wealth stratification reflecting generations of system racism — this is at the heart of the imbalance.

Catch-up investments in housing, health, education, social support structures, environmental safety and opportunity are needed, yes. But any effort ought to start with a recognition of the terrible harm that systemic racism and segregation have done to so many families for so long.