By Janice Robinson-Celeste
Publisher, Successful Black Parenting Magazine
4-minute read
While the U.S. spends a staggering $4.9 trillion annually on healthcare, it remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world to give birth, especially for Black families. According to a comprehensive report titled Advancing Health Equity by the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), “birthing people in the USA are 10 times more likely to die of childbirth-related complications than people in equally resourced nations.” Even more alarming, Black women are disproportionately more likely to die from childbirth-related complications than their white, Latinx, or Asian counterparts.
But the crisis doesn’t stop at birth. The report reveals a chilling fact: “The national infant mortality rate in the USA is 5.6 deaths per 1000 live births, but the rate for Black babies was nearly double at 10.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 2022.” This stark disparity underscores the urgency to address racism as a root cause of poor maternal and infant health outcomes for Black families.
“The United States of America (USA) remains one of the most dangerous countries to give birth.”
Racism: A Root Cause of Health Disparities
NBCDI and researchers at Stanford’s RAPID Survey Project gathered powerful data between May 2021 and June 2023, exposing the deep-seated impact of racism in maternal healthcare. One of the most shocking findings:
“Nearly 20% of Black parents reported experiencing racism during pregnancy — a rate disproportionately higher than other racial grooups. In contrast, only 0.5% of white parents reported such experiences.”
These aren’t just numbers. They’re real families navigating life-threatening experiences. One mother shared:
“An older midwife denied my experiences, constantly dissmissing my symptoms with, ‘No,’ or ‘That’s not what you feel,’ and frequent ‘you people’ phrases.”
Another reported that after healthcare providers realized her baby was biracial, “my level of care changed significantly.” These examples highlight how anti-Black bias directly affects care quality, contributing to fear, distrust, and poor health outcomes.
The Legacy of Structural Inequity
The survey also found that Black parents are overrepresented among those living below 200% of the federal poverty level, a direct outcome of historical income inequality and systemic discrimination. The link between poverty and poor maternal outcomes is clear. As the report notes:
“Children from families with more financial burdens also have increased risk of poor health and educational outcomes as they mature.”
NBCDI recognizes the deep intergenerational impact of these disparities. Their framework—Eight Essential Outcomes for Black Child Development—emphasizes the first eight years of life as critical. One outcome states: “Every Black child is born at a healthy weight.”
But systemic racism is making that goal harder to achieve. Factors like preterm birth and low birth weight are major contributors to Black infant mortality rates, second only to birth defects.
Racial Trauma and Biological Harm
Science now confirms what many Black parents have always felt in their bones: racism doesn’t just hurt emotionally—it can harm biologically. The report explains:
“Racism and racial trauma increased stress hormones, triggerig biological changes that affect both baby and parent.”
“These changes contribute to disproportionate adverse birth outcomes for Black babies, including preterm birth and low birth weight, creating long-term intergenerational harm.”
NBCDI is addressing this crisis head-on by launching the Black Infant and Maternal Health Task Force. This nationwide initiative will investigate how stress, anxiety, and depression, fueled by racism and generational trauma, impact birth outcomes. It aims to:
- Identify unknown comorbidities related to low birth weight
- Center community voices in research
- Build data-informed policy solutions to improve Black maternal and infant health
From Research to Action: A Vision Rooted in Afrofuturism
What sets NBCDI apart is its commitment to Afrofuturism—a systems-based, culturally grounded approach that imagines a future where Black families thrive. Their framework recognizes that:
“Systemic changes that alighn with the liberated future of Black people require the collective insights of the Black community.”
They are using their Afrofuturist Systems Design Process to reshape how we think about healthcare systems, community support, and policy reform.
What Black Parents Can Do
This crisis may feel overwhelming, but there are powerful ways to make a difference:
- Speak Up: Share your birthing experiences. Your story can be part of the solution.
- Support Black-led health organizations, like NBCDI and Family Inceptions, that center Black maternal health.
- Demand accountability from healthcare providers and advocate for bias training in hospitals.
- Engage with policymakers to push for change at every level—from local clinics to Capitol Hill.
Final Thoughts
This report confirms what we’ve long known: anti-Black racism is not just a social issue—it’s a public health emergency. As NBCDI boldly states:
“Black maternal and infant health disparities are a public halth crisis htat demand immediate action.”
At Successful Black Parenting Magazine, we stand in solidarity with every parent fighting for equity, justice, and a healthy start for their child. Let’s make sure that every Black child is born at a healthy weight and every Black parent receives the respectful, dignified care they deserve.
Together, we can change the narrative—for ourselves, for our children, and for generations to come.
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