The Blacker the Berry, Kill the Fruit: Why Being Pregnant and Black is the United States’ Genocide

Rubila Smith, The Blacker the Berry, Kill the Fruit: Why Being Pregnant and Black is the United States’ Genocide, Southern U. L. Center, J. Race, Gender & Poverty (2021, Forthcoming):

The United States of America presents, through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, alarming data regarding maternal mortality and the disparities amongst black women. Whether the cause is socioeconomic, inadequate access to healthcare, or some sort of genetic difficulty that affects one group more than another, the disparities are present and require immediate correction. However, the United States has failed to address the issues of maternal mortality, especially when black women are steadily suffering from the lack of attention and care. This article shows the troubling disparities, heartbreaking data, and unreal numbers, as well as the attempts across the country to rectify this issue. It concludes that a federal change must take place, and the United States as a whole must be held responsible for the brazen disregard of the inadequate healthcare of black women. Nevertheless, this article shows why healthcare reform, specifically geared to address racial disparities, is necessary to combat maternal mortality.