Suicide is the third leading cause of death among American youth in the 15 to 24 age group. While the overall youth suicide rate has nearly doubled since 1960, the rate for African American youth has tripled, yet is still lower than the rate for non-Hispanic Whites (Centers for Disease Control, 2001). However, with the exception of Native American youth, the rates for other ethnic minority youth have remained fairly stable over the past 4 decades, and Black youth are still less likely than White youth to commit suicide or engage in suicidal behavior.

An examination of youth suicide rates in the United States reveals a curious paradox: Since 1960 African American youth, both males and females, have consistently recorded lower rates than White youth despite their relatively greater exposure to multiple risk factors and behaviors that are associated with youth suicide (Dryfoos, 1990; Garland & Zigler, 1993). Although the gap in suicide rates between White and non-White males has narrowed since the mid-1980s, the differences persist in the face of continuing racial discrimination, family poverty, and exposure to stressful environments that disproportionately affect the health and mental health of youth of color (see Gibbs & Huang, 2003; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).

The purpose of this chapter is to examine this seeming paradox of lower suicide rates among Black youth in a society in which they are economically and socially disadvantaged and lack access to affordable health care.