From the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 revealed that longstanding health disparities in communities of color put them most at risk for infection spread. Then, after vaccines became available, lingering mistrust of the health care system slowed vaccinations. And fears about the pandemic led some patients of color to delay or avoid medical care for diseases like cancer.

Now, doctors are alarmed by the high rate of advanced disease, especially among African Americans and Latinos. One of the main questions we will discuss is: What is the long-term impact of delaying care?

Joining our discussion about health care delays are guest panelists Dr. Charles Anderson from the Dimock Center, Dr. Naomi Ko from Boston Medical Center, and Dr. Cecil R. Webster Jr. and Mark Kennedy from the Boston Public Health Commission.

Watch Basic Black tonight at 7:30pm on GBH 2, or below with an exclusive after-show conversation that can only be viewed on the GBH News digital platforms.