Seven Ways Racism Harms Pregnant Black Women 93.1 WZAK [Video]

The journey to motherhood and the experience of pregnancy should be one defined by joyous anticipation and dedicated care. But for far too many Black women in the U.S., the experience is often irreversibly marred by the structural and systemic racism in the industry that is to first do no harm. While this should come as no surprise given that the modern field of gynecology developed through experimentation on enslaved Black women who were kept awake even during surgical procedures, it doesn’t mean that people cannot be informed about race-driven causes and biases that kill mothers and babies; and it certainly does not mean that a dedicated group of people cannot create change. In fact, it’s critical that they do. 

The commitment to first do no harm, even if unintentionally, is ignored over and over when pregnant Black women seek proper medical care. Racial discrimination leads to stunning disparities in not only healthcare access but quality healthcare even …