In the United States, Black women face alarming maternal health disparities. Black moms are two to three times more likely to die in childbirth or of pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts, and account for more than half of preventable prenatal or postpartum complications. A growing number of studies attribute these disparities to racism, both structural and medical.

Research also shows that Black women are more likely to be uninsured, face greater financial barriers to health care and are less likely to have access to quality, culturally competent maternity care. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these social determinants of health, with Black and Hispanic women hit the hardest by job losses and lack of child care options.  

Birth and reproductive justice advocates are taking active roles to combat these injustices and help improve birth outcomes for Black mothers and their babies. Here are just a few of the leaders who are organizing, mobilizing and educating in the name of Black maternal health.

Congresswoman Alma Adams

Representing North Carolina's 12th congressional district, Congresswoman Adams helped launch the Black Maternal Health Caucus to improve Black maternal health outcomes. Her work has helped raise awareness within Congress for Black maternal health concerns, and she also advocates for culturally-competent policies and reproductive justice for Black mothers.

Learn more: adams.house.gov

Ancient Song Doula Services 

This New York City-based group merges education with direct action birth work to help Black families who are navigating racism in the health care system. From virtual training to doula recruitment, Ancient Song plays an active role in addressing disparities in New York City. In the past, the group also provided support to pregnant people incarcerated in Rikers Island.

Learn more: ancientsongdoulaservices.com

Birthmark Doula Collective 

The New Orleans-based birth justice organization offers childbirth education, birth and postpartum doula services, and lactation support. The collective aims to actively combat reproductive injustice with direct action. In addition to countless educational offerings and support groups, the Birthmark Doula Collective partners with nurse advocates, local activists and community groups to create an accessible network of support and resources for Black women.

Learn more: birthmarkdoulas.com

Black Mamas Matter Alliance 

Through their advocacy and research, this Black women-led organization of educators, birth workers, experts and activists in Georgia has become a powerful voice in the reproductive justice movement. The group is working to change public policy regarding Black maternal health.

Learn more: blackmamasmatter.org

Black Women Birthing Justice

This collective of African American, African, Caribbean and multiracial women seeks to address issues that Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth. The group works to empower Black mothers and ensure that pregnant people everywhere are supported by caregivers who use evidence-based practices that take into account how race impacts lived experiences.

Learn more: blackwomenbirthingjustice.com 

Black Women’s Health Imperative

Founded in 1983, the Black Women’s Health Imperative seeks to “lead the effort to solve the most pressing health issues that affect Black women and girls in the U.S.” The organization prioritizes the physical, emotional and financial wellness of Black women and girls nationwide through signature programs, policy development, special initiatives and more.

Learn more: bwhi.org

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler

Representing Southwest Washington’s 3rd District, Congresswoman Beutler has recently introduced legislation to combat the maternal mortality crisis, including the Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services (MOMS) Act (which aims to extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum care), the Birth Access Benefiting Improved Essential Facility Services (BABIES) Act (to expand access to freestanding birth centers for Medicaid recipients) and Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) Act (to fund midwifery education).

Learn more: jhb.house.gov

Senator Cory Booker

Sen. Booker, along with Reps. Underwood and Adams, introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus of 2020 to advance federal solutions to the high rate of Black women dying due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. More recently, Booker reintroduced the bill. If passed and signed into law, this bill would invest in known solutions to the crisis, such as increased access to maternal health care in underserved communities, extending pregnancy-related insurance coverage up to a year after birth and expanding community-based organizations.

Learn more: booker.senate.gov

Mayor Muriel Bowser

The Washington, D.C. mayor is a fierce advocate for pregnant women and mothers. Each year since 2018, she's hosted the National Maternal & Infant Health Summit, bringing together stakeholders from government, education, health care and the community to collaborate and explore strategies to improve perinatal health and address racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. Mayor Bowser also launched Thrive by Five D.C., a comprehensive childhood health and early learning initiative. 

Learn more: mayor.dc.gov

Representative Cori Bush 

As a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Rep. Bush works to create awareness and change for the outcomes of Black mothers and their babies. These issues hit especially close to home for the registered nurse and single mother; she recently stood before Congress to recount her own experience nearly losing two babies. 

Learn more: bush.house.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Reproductive Health

The C.D.C. has been working hard for more than 50 years to improve women's reproductive health and improve fetal, newborn and infant health. In 2020, the organization took it a step further when it launched Hear Her, a campaign to draw awareness to urgent pregnancy-related warning signs and ensure moms facing complications get the help they need. The ongoing initiative also strives to improve communication — and facilitate potentially lifesaving conversations — between pregnant women and their partners and health care providers. 

Learn more: cdc.gov/hearher

Senator Chris Coons

Along with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware recently proposed new legislation to stem the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. with the bipartisan Reach Every Mother and Child Act. The legislation would aim to end preventable deaths of mothers and young children by 2030 with interventions such as improving clean birthing practices, access to vaccines and nutritional supplements.

Learn more: coons.senate.gov

Nicole Deggins C.N.M., M.S.N., M.P.H.

Deggins is the founder and CEO of Sista Midwife Productions, the largest online Black midwives and doula directory. As a birth advocacy expert with over 20 years of experience in the health field, she brings important knowledge to the current reproductive justice movement while raising awareness about how history impacts current birth outcomes for Black women.

Learn more: sistamidwife.com

Senator Tammy Duckworth

As the first senator to give birth while serving in Congress, Sen. Tammy Duckworth has long been a champion for mothers’ rights. She’s also one of the original co-sponsors of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. “It’s a tragedy every time a new mother dies from a preventable cause related to pregnancy or childbirth, and it’s shameful that far too often those new moms are women of color whose pain or symptoms have been overlooked or ignored,” Duckworth said in a press release.

Learn more: duckworth.senate.gov

Vice President Kamala Harris 

Just before Black Maternal Health Week began this spring, the Biden-Harris administration announced a series of new initiatives to help create health equity for Black mothers. Leading the charge, Vice President Harris has been hosting round table discussions that further center the needs of the community. These initiatives include $200 million allocated to implicit bias training for health care providers, at-home prenatal services and a Maternal Mortality Review committee.

Learn more: whitehouse.gov

Fleda Mask Jackson, Ph.D.

Jackson is a reproductive justice advocate and activist who focuses on issues related to Black mental health. She also works as a consultant and educator for organizations such as the Center for Excellence in Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School and the Ford Foundation. In 2018, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance highlighted her groundbreaking research in their advocacy work. She is also the recipient of the Spelman College Alumnae Achievement Award in Health and Science and the Delta Award for Health Activism due to her tireless work and research in the field of health equity.

Learn more: drfledamjackson.com

Charles Johnson 

Johnson created the nonprofit 4 Kira 4 Moms in honor of his wife Kira, who died in 2018 after complications from a routine C-section. The goal of the organization is to advocate for better outcomes for Black women and to offer support to bereaved families. The same year his wife died, Johnson testified in front of Congress about the circumstances of his wife’s death. In December 2018, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act — landmark legislation to improve the quality and comprehensiveness of maternal death data, which Johnson helped support — was signed into law.

Learn more: 4kira4moms.com

Congresswoman Robin Kelly

The Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA’s) Act, introduced by Congresswoman Robin Kelly with Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, seeks to stem the tide of America’s rising maternal mortality rate. “Every year, we lose more mommas to rising rates of maternal mortality and it’s a sad fact that it’s more dangerous to have a baby today than it was 25 years ago,” Congresswoman Kelly said in a press release. The MOMMA’s act aims to reduce maternal deaths by establishing national obstetric emergency protocols, expanding Medicaid coverage for postpartum moms, standardizing data collection and more.

Learn more: robinkelly.house.gov

Mamatoto Village

Healthy mamas, healthy babies, healthy communities: This is the vision of Mamatoto Village. The non-profit organization is dedicated to creating careers for BIPOC women in the public health and human service industries, in addition to empowering women with perinatal support services. Mamatoto Village offers virtual classes, a variety of services for pregnant women and new moms, training sessions and more.

Learn more: mamatotovillage.org

March of Dimes

In addition to their efforts to address the maternal health crisis and maternity care deserts in the U.S., the March of Dimes is one of the leading organizations supporting the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and is providing implicit bias training to more than 15,000 health care providers. The organization has also partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and UnitedHealthCare Community & State to fund a quality improvement pilot program aimed at improving maternal health outcomes for Black women.

Learn more: marchofdimes.org 

First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy

On Maternal Health Awareness Day last year, First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy launched Nurture NJ, an awareness campaign dedicated to reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. This New Jersey-based campaign takes a multifaceted approach to closing the state's racial disparities for Black mothers and babies, among the highest in the nation. 

Learn more: nj.gov/governor

National Advocates for Pregnant Women

This New York-based nonprofit brings experts, lawyers, activists and advocates together to help Black pregnant and birthing people who have been adversely impacted by the criminal justice system. Their work is fueled by a commitment to social equity and racial justice.

Learn more: advocatesforpregnantwomen.org

National Black Doulas Association

The National Black Doulas Association (NBDA) connects Black parents with Black doulas across the nation to provide support, comfort and assistance from pregnancy through the postpartum period. The association also provides insightful training for those wishing to become a doula.

Learn more: blackdoulas.org

National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color 

Did you know that rates of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity are lower among Black babies than white babies? The National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color works to close such racial disparities by “cultivating a community of diverse professional and peer lactation supporters to transform communities of color through policy, breastfeeding and skilled lactation care,” according to its website. The organization provides support for both its members and for those seeking lactation help through its directory.

Learn more: napplsc.org

National Birth Equity Collaborative

The National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC) has a simple yet immensely important vision: “All Black mothers and babies thrive.” Founded on values like leadership and freedom, the NBEC “creates solutions that optimize Black maternal and infant health through training, policy advocacy, research and community-centered collaboration,” according to its website.

Learn more: birthequity.org

Off Grid in Color

Off Grid in Color is a farm and homestead sanctuary in North Carolina. In addition to providing farm-raised food to the community, the group offers holistic doula services and is committed to educating families about sustainability and the importance of food justice, especially at the intersection of reproductive justice. 

Learn more: offgridincolors.com 

Jamila Perritt, M.D.

A board-certified OB/GYN and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Family Planning, Dr. Perritt provides community-centric care driven by a passion for educating people about sexual health, reproductive justice and social equity. She works with organizations that directly impact Black pregnant and birthing people.

Learn more: jamilaperrittmd.com

Preeclampsia Foundation 

Racial disparities exist when it comes to preeclampsia, too — the condition is one of several that disproportionately affect Black women. The Preeclampsia Foundation is devoted to reducing the threat of hypertensive disorders through education, the advancement of health care practices and research for a cause and cure for preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. 

Learn more: preeclampsia.org

Roots Community Birth Center

As one of the few Black-owned birth centers in the country, Roots Community Birth Center is committed to addressing the unique needs of Black families. And their work is making a difference: Early data from the center suggests that Roots is actively improving birth outcomes compared to national averages, in addition to offering breastfeeding support and advocacy.

Learn more: rootsbirthcenter.com

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood 

Alongside Congresswoman Alma Adams, Congresswoman Underwood launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus in order to improve Black maternal health outcomes. Created in April 2019, the Caucus works to create solutions for the staggering racial disparities in maternal health.

Learn more: underwood.house.gov