Believe Black Women Who Are In Pain

To no one surprise, at least to black women in America, there have been two public cases within a

week that sparked outrage and disappointment at every level. One involving Kerrie Jones, a Texas resident who was in labor at Dallas Regional Medical Center in Mesquite, Texas, screamed aloud for an intervention as she was sure her baby was moments from making their debut. A white administrative nurse who was unwillingly to give any comfort or aid, stayed motionless at her station taking information that could have been paused for the moment as her disposition spoke volumes. It had gotten so bad, Jones' mother intervened and asked if all patients were treated that way or if it was just "the black ones". According to the short clip, Jones gave birth to a healthy baby twelve minutes later. Amid the backlash, the hospital acknowledged the incident and stated that there was a full investigation taking place and according to reports, the nurse involved in the debacle was allegedly fired. If that was not enough, just days later in Crown Point, Indiana, 38-year-old Mercedes Wells, was turned away from Franciscan Hospital while pleading with the hospital to let her stay knowing she was going to give birth soon. The now mother of four was then wheeled out of the hospital in tears, hop into her vehicle and within eight minutes her baby girl was born as her husband assisted as he pulled over. Wells even stated there was no compassion for her husband to even warm the vehicle up for her. According to this story, the staff claimed that she had only dilated 3 centimeters and because of that she was not a candidate to stay and that she would need to leave and go home until she was further along. These are just some of the stories Black women in American can familiarize with as to how they have been treated while bringing a new life into this world. Time and time again we have been explicit in how we feel when walking into any healthcare facility. It becomes a guessing game as to how we will be treated and looked upon. We do the research, we assume the best health facility even down to the doctor who we feel is a great fit for our needs and yet, there are cases like these that gives reason for a pause. There is no doubt the stark difference between White and Black pregnancies determines the quality of care one will receive in the process. The Center for Disease Control stated in 2021 the morality rate for non-Hispanic (black women) was 69.9 deaths to every 100,000 births which is 2.6 times higher than non-Hispanic (white women) as opposed to 26.6 deaths for White women (CDC, 2021). When pain is involved, it is widely assumed that black women can handle the sensation of pain due to racist stereotypes stemming from the days of slavery that creeps its way into the halls of hospitals around the country and ingrained in and accepted by physicians without any scientific proof backing this claim. This amongst many reasons are why black women are opting out of having their child be born in a government run facility and becoming more proactive in the entire process and having a more intimate birth state at home. It has become apparent the correlation to this administration lack of diversity and inclusion and a trickle-down belief of others with power treating those without power is immorally just as egregious. It starts from the top. Nonetheless it is our duties as current and future parents to advocate for our well-being right alongside our children. There are no excuses to deny mothers who insist knowing how their body is functioning inadequate care or a dismissal of their uncomfortability. It is time we speak up on the disparities and save our own because clearly no one else is willing to do so.