Updated 6/2/08 by SB.
Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates per 100,000 Persons by  Race/Ethnicity for 3 Health Focus Areas (Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke): U.S., 2002

African Americans have the highest all-cause death rate (1083.3 per 100,000), and as this slide shows, the highest death rate for three of the leading causes of death.  They also lead in deaths from diabetes (49.5, vs. 25.4 per 100,000 for all populations); homicide (21.0, vs. 6.1 per 100,000 for all populations); influenza and pneumonia (24.0, vs. 22.6 per 100,000 for all populations); and breast (34.0), prostate (62.0), and lung cancer (61.9).  (All populations cancer death rates, Breast: 25.6, Prostate: 27.9, Lung: 54.9.).  (9)

African Americans have a higher cancer death rate than white Americans, even though white Americans have a higher prevalence of cancer -- 7.8% for whites, compared to 3.4% for African Americans. This suggests some racial disparity in cancer screening and/or treatment. (10)

Slide source (9)