ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) – Black people in the Finger Lakes region face stark health disparities as a result of racism and the way it manifests, a problem magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released Friday by Common Ground Health. The report, “The Color of Health: The Devastating Toll of Racism on Black Lives,” is a 50-page analysis that connects the dots between higher early mortality rates for African Americans in Rochester and the Finger Lakes and the socioeconomic restrictions they encounter. Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health, presents The Color of Health report. CREDIT RACQUEL STEPHEN / WXXI NEWS According to the report, compared to their white counterparts, African Americans in the Finger Lakes experience higher rates of heart disease (133% higher), diabetes (146%), cancer (35%), and premature birth disorders (218%). Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health, said health equity extends beyond the walls of medical institutions. “To improve health f...