Health disparities may follow along a series of ˵…events signified by a difference in (1) environment, (2) access to, utilization of, and quality of care, (3) health status, or (4) a particular health outcome that deserves scrutiny″ (Carter-Pokras and Baquet 2002: 427). This chapter focuses on three types of health disparities assessed by evaluating the gap in health status or a given health outcome. First, we describe Black–White differences across health and refer to these patterns as general health disparities. Second, we present some research demonstrating the standard SES-health gradient where those at the top of the economic hierarchy are in much better health than those at the bottom of the economic hierarchy. We focus specifically on the health of African Americans since our ultimate goal is to better understand differences within this population. Third, we emphasize a more recent disparity highlighted by some health scholars – that of a paradox among the Black middle class. These inequalities are surprising (and hence referred to as paradoxical) because the patterns are counter-intuitive to the SES-health gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]