Dear friend,

Today is the first day of Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) in the United States, a week-long campaign to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.

The U.S. continues to face a maternal health crisis, with rates of maternal deaths continuing to rise. The crisis disproportionately impacts Black women, who are nearly three times more likely to die than white women from pregnancy complications. The time is now to invest in the advancement in the movement for racial and birth justice.

The Center for Reproductive Rights proudly joins the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA)—who started BMHW seven years ago—to champion this year's theme, Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW, and to center Black women's scholarship, maternity care work, and advocacy across the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care.

The Center is working to extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum in ALL states, ensure access to community-based doula services; and expand access to the midwifery model of care. Through our U.S. Maternal Health and Rights Initiative, we continue to collaborate with BMMA and member organizations to promote the human rights of pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people in the United States.

Throughout this week of awareness, action, and beyond, join us in honoring the experiences of Black mothers, centering their voices, and committing ourselves to dismantling the structures of oppression that perpetuate health inequities. Together, with you and our partners, we can build a future where every Black birthing person has access to safe, respectful, and dignified maternal care.

In Solidarity,

Breana Lipscomb
Senior Advisor, Maternal Health & Rights