“You Are Powerful”: In Reflective Video, Black Moms at Planned Parenthood Celebrate the Joys of Black Motherhood

Uplifting Messages to Honor Black Mamas for Black Maternal Health Week

New York, NY —  Black Maternal Health Week — an annual initiative founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) — is April 11-17. And Black moms at Planned Parenthood are sharing encouraging messages with fellow Black mamas and pregnant people. Captioned beneath heart-warming videos and photos of life with their families, a series of voices speak:

“Black mamas — past, present, and future — thank you for being who you are. You are loving and you are loved. You build power and you are powerful. You provide safe spaces, and you deserve to be safe. May your journey to, and through, motherhood — however that journey looks — be filled with love. We stand with you. Love, Black Mamas at Planned Parenthood”

In 2021, we continue to call awareness to the disparities affecting Black women and pregnant people. Yet, Black women also need space to embrace the joy within their individual journeys to, and through, motherhood. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Stay up-to-date with BMMA, which leads the 4th Annual Black Maternal Health Week (#BMHW21) by visiting the BBMA website for events and ways to support Black Mamas during #BMHW21.

Generations of systemic, environmental, and interpersonal racism have led to a maternal health crisis in the U.S. Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, even as Black women continue to make great strides as valued leaders within and beyond their communities. Three of every five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, per the CDC. 

Black women who navigate daily life in the U.S. — pursuing education, excelling in the workplace, and caring for themselves and their families —  do so within racist and discriminatory systems. Even when education and income are factored in, systemic racism takes a toll on Black women’s physical health — including access to high-quality health care — before, during, and after pregnancy.  

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Black mothers deserve to be seen, embraced, and supported at all stages of pregnancy and beyond. As a Black mother, I know firsthand that maternal health doesn’t begin when a person gets pregnant, and it doesn’t end when a pregnancy is over. 

“Planned Parenthood is committed to following the lead of organizations like Black Mamas Matter Alliance that center Black mothers in efforts to address this maternal health crisis. This requires systemic changes across many institutions including health care. We call on policymakers to pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and to continue to pursue policies and invest in programs that center the health of Black women.”

Many Planned Parenthood health centers serve pregnant patients with screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, substance abuse, and environmental and teratogenic exposures. In addition, these health centers often provide services such as obesity management, smoking cessation support, vaccinations (including flu), and preconception support. Some Planned Parenthood health centers offer care for patients experiencing miscarriage, as well as primary care, and behavioral health care. Equity is a high priority for Planned Parenthood, and our health center providers and staff undergo training to understand and eliminate bias, racial microaggressions, and stereotyping.

Planned Parenthood also advocates for policies that protect the health and safety of Black mothers and pregnant people, including: 

• Passing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 which details innovative solutions to address the systemic causes of Black maternal mortality, as well as new measures to address maternal health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This act allocates the resources, investment, and support Black mothers need to thrive, and would help ensure pregnancy and birth outcomes do not depend on race.

• Expanding access to Medicaid, the largest payer of reproductive health care in the U.S.: Due to systemic racism and inequities, people who are covered by Medicaid are disproportionately Black, Latino, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Approximately 30% of Black women ages 15 to 44 are enrolled in Medicaid, compared to 14% of white women. 

• Ending the racist Hyde Amendment, which limits many Black women’s ability to decide when and if they want to expand their families. Support for Black mothers means upholding their right and ability to make their own decisions about abortion, pregnancy, and parenting. Congress can do so by passing the EACH Act. 

Planned Parenthood applauds the Biden-Harris administration’s recent announcement to propose regulations to end the Title X gag rule, which restricts family planning funding that disproportionately serves Black and Latino patients. 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.