“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly,” Jesus affirms in this Sunday’s gospel. African Americans have experienced a bit more of that abundance in recent years.

"Homicide is the seventh highest cause of death among blacks and has not decreased to major extent in any age group other than 65 and older."

Death rates have been rising for middle-aged white Americans, in large part due to the toll of the opioid epidemic.