by Jamarah Amani, LM

The theme for 2026 Black Maternal Health Week, an annual awareness week founded by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, is “Rooted in Justice and Joy.” Meanwhile, Miami Dade County’s most recent maternal death stats show Black birthers face a rate of 61.6 per 100,000, compared to 12.6 for white birthers. Rates are rising, disproportionately affecting Black families. MDC has 2.7 million residents, over 70% Latino and nearly 17% Black. The region faces significant health disparities, especially among Black and Indigenous birthing people, including risks for maternal mortality, morbidity, mental health issues, diabetes, and hypertension. Obstetric racism harms Black mothers with neglect, disrespect, diagnostic errors, degradation, abuse, coercion, and pain. Instead of supportive births, many face trauma and long-term effects. These disparities persist despite advances and socioeconomic status.

Recent developments in Florida, where ProPublica uncovered Black women coerced into C-sections via court orders and hospital pressure, exemplify this. Let’s speak plainly: this is about who controls the body, a fight Black women have been fighting for as long as our ancestors have been on these stolen lands. Today we are still fighting for our lives against health and power disparities that sentence too many to preventable deaths due to systemic racism.

Every birthing person deserves compassionate, attentive, and comprehensive care—before pregnancy, during pregnancy, throughout labor and delivery, and extensively in the postpartum period. This kind of care is rooted in a sense of community, delivered by well-trained midwives who embody these core principles and skills. Midwives often collaborate with doulas, community health workers, obstetricians, and pediatricians to provide the best support possible.

It’s no coincidence that countries with the top birth outcomes are those that prioritize midwives as their main caregivers during the perinatal period. Sadly, in the United States, our birth outcomes rank among the lowest among industrialized nations. This is partly because our healthcare system undervalues and stigmatizes the vital role of midwives, restricting their ability to serve families through restrictive laws and policies. Historically, the important contributions of Black midwives—who cared for pregnant people of all races in the South from the era of slavery through the 1950s—have been erased and marginalized, despite their monumental significance.

It’s also crucial to recognize the link between racial and structural inequities—such as the racial disparities in police violence and pregnancy-related deaths among Black women. These injustices are interconnected, as the stress from racism and discrimination increases cortisol levels and allostatic load, leading to poor health outcomes for birthing people and their babies.

When healthcare decisions overlook the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of birthing people and ignore their real needs, the consequences can be devastating. Research shows that midwives are often better equipped to provide consistent, personalized, and sensitive care tailored to the diverse needs of families. They are also more prepared to identify and address complications early, helping to prevent tragic and severe outcomes.

Despite numerous efforts—both legislative and healthcare-based—over the years, what’s glaringly missing is robust support to expand the capacity of midwives to help address this crisis. Given the data we have, it’s both irresponsible and urgent that we take action.

This Black Maternal Health Week, let’s advocate for meaningful investment to ensure all families have better access to midwifery care.

Jamarah Amani is a mother of four, a midwife, and the executive director of Southern Birth Justice Network.