The Milwaukee Health Department is calling a new study an embarrassment, but why?

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Health Department is calling a new study an embarrassment. The findings show black residents don't live as long as white residents in Wisconsin -- and the racial gap is improving everywhere but here.

The study published in the Health Affairs Journal says in 2010, white men in Wisconsin lived an average of seven years longer than black men. White women in Wisconsin lived four to six years longer than black women.

Public Health Commissioner Bevan Baker says along with community health events, more needs to be done.

"I'm concerned that some of the policies and some of the investments in the public health system haven't kept par with other states, and we really should be concerned if we really want everyone to have equal opportunity to be healthy," said Baker.

Nicole Barnes happened upon the "I Have a Dream" wellness event Tuesday, August 5th. She says she has concerns about her own health.

"Being healthy, you know, we need to get there. Especially in communities that are low-income, predominantly African-American. We have a lot of health issues in our communities so we make sure we address those issues in a fun, proactive way," said Barnes.

The study shows Wisconsin is not alone in the standings. Other than Illinois, none of the Midwest states showed much progress for women. Overall, New York showed the most improvement, shaving almost six years off the gap between white and black women.