GRIEVING IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
Black birthing parents and infants are dying at an alarming rate, much higher than other birthing parents and their infants from different backgrounds.
The United States has the worst maternal death rates in the developed world, and the only rate that is rising. We take a closer look at contributing factors and grieving in communities of color.
*We note that this page uses the words “woman,” “women,” or “mother.” This is not intended to be exclusionary. Rather, we the use of “woman” or “women” to cite research and data.
The Details
Black women are 3-4x more likely to die from pregnancy related causes then white women.
Black infants have 2.3x the infant mortality rate compared to white babies and are 3.8 times as likely to die from complications related to low birth weight.
Black women over the age of 30 are 4-5x more likely to lose their baby than their white counterparts.
Black women with a college degree are 5x more likely to lose their baby than white women with a high school education.
Contributing Factors
A Closer Look at Black Infant and Maternal Mortality
The causes
Black women have limited opportunities. Economically disadvantaged Black women are more likely to live in communities that have fewer educational resources and employment opportunities.
Black women face accumulated stress. Black women are more likely to be affected by the accumulated stress of discrimination regardless of socioeconomic status.
Systemic racism and implicit bias in health care. The social and economic forces of systematic racial bias—not race itself—compromises health in Black women and the health of their future children.
Access to health care. Women in poverty are more likely to have limited access to health care services, adequate food, transportation, and housing.
Historical trauma and compounded grief in the Black community
Grief Compounded by Historical Trauma. The Black community has endured a legacy of loss in America from generations of racial trauma at the root of slavery, Jim Crow segregation laws, police brutality, community violence and systematic oppression. Disproportionate rates of infant and maternal death further complicate the grieving process in the Black community.
The strong Black woman myth. Black women are perceived as invincible, strong, and resilient. In their strength, Black women have learned to bear silent pain to survive.
Although vulnerability may be considered a weakness in the Black community, feeling pain after experiencing loss is a universal, human emotion. It’s okay to grieve and seek support.
Grieve in a way that feels right to you. Take time to sit with your grief. Find coping strategies that work for you. Perform grief rituals to help you heal.
Seek support. Surround yourself with people who support you. Contact health professionals when you need help. Join support groups for bereaved families.
Faith and therapy can coexist. Although faith is a source of strength for many in the Black community, it often does not allow for despair. It is believed that if a person has enough faith, there is no need to grieve. Seeking help during the grieving process is not cause to question your faith. It is important to find ways both to keep faith and make space for the grief.
RTZ Webinars
Online Support Community
bipoc Growth & Healing After Pregnancy & Infant Loss Private Facebook Group
The Return to Zero: HOPE Growth and Healing After Pregnancy and Infant Loss in Communities of Color group is for those who identify as a person of color and who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Our vision is to provide a safe space to grieve while utilizing group discussions, mindful coping mechanisms, and resources to support you and you family.
bipoc Virtual Support Group
This 6-week support group is for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who have experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. We recognize how important it is for people of color to feel a connection to others who have experienced a similar loss, and to talk about their loss in a safe space.
Additional Resources
To learn more:
Fact Sheet: Maternal Mental Health—Black women and birthing people (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance)
Black Mothers Matter: Racism and Childbirth in America | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
The New York Times: Why America’s Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis
Turning Tragedy into Opportunity: 5 Things I learned about Using My Voice After My Son Died by Kima Tozay, LICSW
Books by Bereaved Parents
Sobreviviendo a lo Inimaginable (Spanish Edition)
By Vermont PhD, Pascale
*Disclosure: Some of these products may contain affiliate links, which means RTZ:HOPE will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you click through and make a purchase.
Mental Health Resources
The Yellow Couch Collective, an online support group for Black women
Therapy for Black Girls, an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
Black Mental Health Alliance, a non-profit whose mission is to develop, promote and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and their communities.
The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, a nonprofit dedicated to the mental health and well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
WeRNative, which provides Native American youth with tools for holistic health and growth, including mental health resources.
Therapy for Latinx, is an online space dedicated to providing mental health resources specifically for the Latinx community.