‘Break the silence’: A project that aims to better understand NC’s Black maternal health crisis

Our goal is to examine the deep roots of the Black maternal health crisis in North Carolina, offer important resources, and amplify the personal stories behind the numbers. Every April, Americans take one week to acknowledge a crisis that has plagued the country for hundreds of years: The United States is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for pregnant Black women.  Few industrialized countries have as high a maternal death rate as the US, and the numbers are even worse for Black women, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Starting in 2021, the Biden administration designated seven days in April as Black Maternal Health Week, a time to call attention to the historic problem, give women a forum to be heard, and offer others the help they need. But both the problem and the efforts to solve it are far bigger than seven days. So throughout May – and beyond – Cardinal & Pine will be sharing stories and other content that examines the deep roots and causes, amplifies the personal stories behind the numbers, highlights available resources and alternative care options, exposes bad actors, and shines a light...