The maternal health crisis in America is disproportionately affecting Black women, who are nearly three times more likely to die from childbirth-related complications than their white counterparts. Despite strides made in health equity, Black women are still subjected to a system that doesn’t listen to their needs, dismisses their pain, and, ultimately, fails to provide the care they deserve. This systemic racism within healthcare, combined with a history of medical mistreatment dating back to slavery, has created a perfect storm that contributes to the high maternal mortality rates in Black women.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to experts, many of these deaths are preventable. Yet Black women continue to face an increased risk of life-threatening pregnancy complications—complications that could often be avoided with the proper care, respect, and attention. Even Black women with a college education are more likely to die during childbirth than white women with less than a high school diploma. This disparity highlights the deep-rooted issues of racism and bias embedded within the healthcare system, where Black women are not only denied the care they need but are often blamed and shamed during their appointments.
One of the unfortunate results of this racial inequality in medical care is the growing trend of home births among Black women. In 2021, home births increased by 21% among Black women, many of whom have been forced to seek alternatives to the institutionalized racism they face within medical systems. For too long, America’s healthcare system has failed Black women, pushing them to the margins of a system that devalues their lives and ignores their pain. Despite the medical profession's attempts to demonize natural, family-centered births, Black women are reclaiming their power, choosing to give birth in environments that respect their autonomy, culture, and traditions.
It is crucial to recognize that Black women’s suffering in maternal health is not just a series of unfortunate events but a deeply ingrained issue rooted in systemic racism. Even women like Serena Williams, who has access to the best medical care, are not exempt from the life-threatening consequences of medical negligence. After her C-section, Williams underwent three additional surgeries due to complications, including an embolism and a hematoma. Williams herself wrote, “Being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me; I know those statistics would be different if the medical establishment listened to every Black woman's experience.”
The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, with Black women disproportionately bearing the brunt of this crisis. Even women with high income or advanced degrees are not shielded from the effects of a system that treats their pain as less valid, their voices as less important, and their lives as expendable. This is the cruel reality that Black women face when they seek medical care during pregnancy and childbirth, and it’s a reality that Earthwork is working to address.
At Earthwork, we are committed to supporting Indigenous women and Black mothers on their birthing journeys. We believe in the power of ancestral wisdom and the importance of honoring natural birthing practices that center the family, the community, and the experiences of the women giving birth. By creating a wellness collective that focuses on holistic care, lactation support, and natural birthing experiences, Earthwork is dedicated to offering a safe, supportive, and culturally relevant alternative to the often dangerous and discriminatory practices that Black women face in mainstream healthcare settings.
We understand that Black women are not just fighting for their right to give birth but for their right to be heard, respected, and treated with dignity. Earthwork seeks to provide an antidote to institutionalized racism in maternal care by offering a space where women can reclaim control over their birthing experiences, rooted in the traditions of their ancestors. By embracing and promoting natural birthing methods, we help Black - Indigenous women experience birth in ways that respect their cultural heritage, their bodies, and their personal needs.
In the face of a healthcare system that has long been indifferent to the needs of Black women, Earthwork stands as a beacon of hope. We recognize that the ongoing maternal mortality crisis is not only a public health issue but a human rights issue. It is time for the world to hear Black women’s experiences, to validate their pain, and to ensure that they are given the care and respect they deserve.
Together, we can rewrite the narrative, one birth at a time.
-Create Society
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