John,
It's March, so let's hear it for the ladies: It's Women's History Month!
This month and beyond, we're uplifting all the Black women and femmes who’ve gotten us closer to a world where all Black people are liberated. We're also going to be shining a light on changemakers doing the damn thing to make strides toward a better society.
And while there's much for Black women and femmes to rejoice, embrace and remember, we cannot forget the journey that our women are still fighting to be revered and respected.
It's no secret that Black women are disproportionately impacted in various intersections of society primarily in health care, pay, and status. So today, we're going to talk about some of that.
Black women in the United States experience unacceptably poor maternal health outcomes, including disproportionately high rates of death related to pregnancy or childbirth. Let's dive even further:
Did you know: Black women are three to four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women;
Did you know: Only 87 percent of Black women of reproductive age have health insurance and many more experience gaps in coverage during their lives;
Did you know: Nearly 3 in 10 charges of pregnancy discrimination (28.6 percent) were filed by Black women from 2011-2015;
And did you know: Black women are often the breadwinners of their families, which means Black women are the backbones of our communities. We cannot fail our Black families. It's time to permanently close ALL gaps.
With a deep history of abuse and neglect by our medical system, it’s no wonder our communities often feel deterred from seeking medical attention. It's on us to push the medical community to take accountability for its history of medical racism, and to ensure our communities have access to the resources they need to live a healthy, thriving life.
John, in honor of Women's History Month and Black women and femmes everywhere, join BLMGNF and recommit to continuing the fight to end all inequities and close the gaps that Black women and femmes face. Take the pledge and let us know how you're fighting >>
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
