They hope to inspire East End residents - and any other people who come - to do better at protecting their health regardless of barriers built into the healthcare system.

Sobering statistics aren't hard to come by. Nationally, the life expectancy for black men is about six years shorter than it is for white men, according to census data; for black women, the gap is about five years. Black babies are more likely to be born too small and twice as likely to die before their first birthday.

On the Peninsula, about 75 percent of people diagnosed with an HIV infection are black, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Statewide, the figure is 62 percent. Activists say years of thinking of AIDS as a gay disease has stifled discussion in the black community.

Nearly two in three black infants in Virginia are born to unwed mothers, putting them at higher risk for living in poverty, according to the state's Office of Minority Health. Later in life, numerous national studies have found that when blacks get sick, they are less likely to get regular care or lifesaving treatments.

Experts blame a combination of factors for the differences, including poverty, racism, the high cost of health insurance, lack of transportation and unhealthy behaviors such as poor diet and lack of exercise.

In addition to spreading the word about problems, Saturday's forum aims to offer practical solutions. One information kit, for example, will have tips for parents on how to communicate better with their children.

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