The March 2023 issue of Health Equity, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, calls attention to both structural and interpersonal racism that resultants in egregious harms to Black women and infants across the United States health care system. In "Creating An Agenda for Black Birth Equity: Black Voices Matter", the authors do not mince words about this public health crisis: 

[W]e, as a society and as a health care system do not listen to Black women. 

The data illustrates this horrifying reality and expounds on how structural and interpersonal racism causes harm and death. But human lives can not be summed up as mere statistics. Each and every statistic correlates with someone's unique, valuable, and irreplaceable life. Even if the terrifying numbers themselves don't catch your attention (22,335 Black infants die annually prior to the age of 1), perhaps the lived experiences of the panelists will.

Organized and hosted by the Kansas Birth Equity Network, a Juneteenth discussion addresses the myriad aspects of discrimination that occur not just in the health care system but throughout the lifespan in America. Four broad themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the discussion and can be viewed in the article: the matrix of domination, specific oppressions of the health care system, dimensions of racism, and empowerment reconceptualized. In short: it's time to have this conversation head-on, to stop using the word "bias" when what is actually happening is racism and violence. 

It might seem obvious, but I'll make the point that health care workers are particularly positioned to address and combat harm and violence done to Black mothers and babies:

  • "We need to intentionally train our health providers and look to measure cultural competency in health systems."
  • "When nurses come in the room, one thing they can do is ask the dad's name. He's sitting right there! Just basic humanity could go a long way."
  • "Every state and hospital should have a maternal morbidity and mortality review committee…When you have these committees, and you can review the morbidities and the deaths among your mothers, it's not a point of pointing the finger at who did what wrong, but it's a point where you can say, 'That's where we went wrong in her care.'”
  • "Put together what we call 'care bundles' that help standardize care so that you hope that the provider bias will be removed from it because you're following a care plan. [put] a system in place where they fall through one crack … you can catch them before they hit the ground.

In honor of Juneteenth (Monday, June 19th) this year, how can you be active in combating health care racism that results in significant violence and death? Join me in elevating Black voices and the lived experiences share in this article. Please read, share, and be willing to discuss this issue to bring about change that can be felt and seen.