This book tries to present the health care problems of the major ethnic minority groups in perspective. Although poverty is probably the most crucial variable in the genesis of these problems, there are still many subtle and not so subtle forms of discrimination operating in the health field. Unfortunately, discrimination in other aspects of American life also has consequences for health and in turn poor health helps to perpetuate the cycle of alienation and poverty. It is emphasized that there are no simple solutions, but that the problems come together into a kind of Gordian knot. There are however, rational and possible steps to take to cut that knot, including: (1) eliminating poverty, (2) effectively enforcing the laws against discrimination, and (3) revising our health care delivery system to provide total coverage for all of the people. The nine chapters of this book focus on the following topics: (1) the health care delivery problem; (2) immigrant minority groups; (3) black Americans; (4) the Spanish-speaking minority groups; (5) the Native Americans; (6) how poverty and hunger transcend racial lines; (7) mental health and mental illness; (8) discrimination and segregation; and, (9) improving health care delivery. (Author/JM)