The Black maternal health crisis is on the ballot this November

By Breanna Grant A client whom I supported as a doula in the birth of her first child came to me months later to inquire about the what/where/how of an abortion. She needed support to see her decision through. She was referred to the Carolina Abortion Fund for financial support and was able to secure supplemental funding. Through this process she expressed two mind-provoking thoughts: “I didn’t know a doula could help me with something like this,” and “I don’t know what my steps would have been if the fund did not answer my call.” For the last seven years, I have supported my clients as they navigate their reproductive health options, including during pregnancy, birth, and the post-partum period. Many folks from marginalized groups, especially Black and brown women, face barriers to care and struggle to find or access the services they need. This has become far more severe in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. There is a maternal health crisis in our country, including right here in North Carolina. It is particularly prominent for Black Americans. While Black people are 22% of the population here in North Carolina, Black women accounted for 43% of...