Legislature must address Black maternal health crisis in post-Roe era

Almost two years have passed since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and Floridians are suffering. During those two years, the struggle for reproductive freedom for Black women has deepened. Black women between the ages of 15 and 44 are more likely to have an abortion and contract sexually transmitted infections from their partner than their white counterparts. At the same time, Black women are two to three more likely to die in childbirth compared to white women. Tori Bowie, an Olympic athlete and Florida resident, was eight months pregnant when she died last year from suspected respiratory distress and eclampsia. Black women are more than 60% more likely to suffer from preeclampsia.   From the lack of access to healthcare facilities to the lack of competent care, every act of reproductive discrimination has its foundation in systemic racism. As a young Black Floridian woman who would like to give birth one day, I get increasingly disheartened and frightened when I consider the current state of the healthcare available, or lack thereof, to me. Even more troubling is how little regard decision-makers have for my community’s well-being.    Anti-reproductive freedom decision-makers uphold the tenets of discrimination by focusing their attention on restricting...