SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY After tennis legend Arthur Ashe contracted HIV/AIDS, he commented that the heaviest burden he had to bear was not the disease but being born black in the United States. In addition to facing systemic racism, black people in the US suffer disproportionately from disease and have shorter life expectancies and less healthy lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, African-American and indigenous communities have suffered dramatically higher rates of hospitalization and death, and vaccine hesitancy among some black people－due to their history of being medically exploited－remains a challenge. Bridging this racial divide is a prerequisite for achieving a new and equitable era in global health. But today, there is far less clinical research involving people of African descent than white populations, particularly in genetics, immunology and related disciplines. Unless we redress this racial imbalance, black people－as well as indigenous groups, Latinx, and other people of color－will continue to be left behind.