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The start of Black Maternal Health Week offers us a moment to reflect not only on the harsh realities Black birthing people face in the U.S., but also on the collective power of our communities to resist, reimagine, and rebuild.
In 2025, the United States remains the most dangerous high-income country in which to give birth—especially if you are Black. While maternal mortality rates have slightly declined since their pandemic-era peak, Black women are still nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to the CDC. That risk only increases with age, poverty, and the cumulative effects of racism and neglect by the healthcare system.
These disparities are not accidental—they are the result of decades of disinvestment, bias, and systemic harm. A 2024 report by the National Institute for Reproductive Health found that 83% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable, with the highest rates concentrated among Black and Brown communities living in medical deserts or facing barriers to transportation, childcare, and culturally responsive care. Additionally, nearly 1 in 4 birthing people in the U.S. report experiencing mistreatment during labor—most commonly Black women, particularly those cared for in hospital systems that fail to center equity.
At NMPP, we believe Black maternal health is not just a health issue—it is a human rights issue. It is about dignity, justice, and the fundamental belief that every mother and birthing person deserves to live.
In the face of rising political hostility toward reproductive and social justice, we have deepened our advocacy, expanded our programs, and doubled down on community partnerships. This year, we proudly supported New York’s landmark Paid Prenatal Leave Law, now in effect as of January 1, 2025. This policy gives pregnant workers across the state an additional 20 hours of paid prenatal leave—a historic win for maternal equity and economic justice.
As we recognize the tireless efforts of doulas, community organizers, healthcare providers, and parents on the frontlines, we also call on our broader networks to act. Black Maternal Health Week is not only a time of remembrance, but of reckoning, and of recommitment.
We must continue to press for change. That means funding Black-led solutions. Listening to Black mamas. Challenging institutions. And showing up—every day, in every space—for the lives of those too often neglected.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can transform systems, protect futures, and center the power of Black motherhood.
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