The Black Maternal Crisis We Keep Ignoring
The death of Dr. Janell Green Smith demands less analysis and more action to address Black maternal health disparities
Welcome to The Community Letter, a weekly reflection from the Enhance Black Women’s Health Community. Here is our chance to come together with a cup of tea (or something stronger) to discuss what’s shaping the health of Black women and other historically marginalized groups.
What’s been sitting with me since hearing about the unfortunate passing of Dr. Janell Green Smith is what can truly be done to address Black maternal health disparities. Regardless of socioeconomic status, Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than women of other groups. Although that statistic is often cited, I don’t think many people realize the magnitude of its implications.
Dr. Green Smith was a certified nurse-midwife who dedicated her career to advocating for safer Black maternal health care. She not only understood the challenges Black women faced but also earned a PhD to undertake the hard work of addressing them. Yet, less than a week after giving birth to her first child, Eden, who is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit, Dr. Green Smith passed away on New Year’s Day.
When I first started learning about Black maternal health disparities in the U.S., I found myself wanting to know why this was happening. As important as that question might seem, the answer doesn’t necessarily give us a solution to address it. Instead of asking why, in 2026, it’s time that we start asking what we can do to address Black maternal health before another preventable death happens.
Black women who die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications are not a statistic, but human beings deserving of dignity. What is often missed in the discussion of the Black maternal health crisis in the U.S. are actual solutions that will prevent another Black woman from experiencing the same outcome.
Those solutions begin with:
Treating Black women with compassionate care: When Black women trust that their pregnancy and birthing concerns will be taken seriously, they will be more likely to bring up potential health concerns sooner. The sooner a healthcare team is aware of potential risks to mother and baby, the sooner they can address them.
Recognizing certain health complications may present differently: Medical training doesn’t always explain what symptoms of complications, such as pale skin, might look like across people. When healthcare teams aren’t aware of what to look for in Black women, they can miss early warning signs that their patient is in distress.
Advocating for expanding midwifery and doula programs: OB-GYNs, midwives, and doulas are not in competition. Instead, they can be part of an effective pregnancy and birthing team. By expanding midwifery and doula programs, we can create a better system that supports mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth.
If you notice, none of these solutions depends on patient effort. Even with self-advocacy, your individual efforts may change your situation, but not the system. The Black maternal health crisis is a systemic issue that will not be addressed with dreams and wishes. We need collective action today, before another mother and child are lost.
Community Prompt
What emotions does this bring up for you? I know it’s a topic that feels heavy for many of us, especially those who have lost someone to pregnancy and childbirth complications.
If you feel comfortable, I welcome you to join the conversation in the comments. Your voice and your perspective are needed.
Until next week,
Tomesha