Hannah Michelle Bussa
NEWS EDITOR
October is Black Maternal Health Month in Nebraska.
Ashlei Spivey is the founder of I Be Black Girl, a collective that creates space for Black women, femmes and girls to access their full potential.
“We are a reproductive justice organization that looks at the full well-being of Black women, femmes and girls,” Spivey said.
I Be Black Girl is hosting virtual workshops and on-demand sessions throughout the month of October for Black women and birthing people across Nebraska.
“This month is an opportunity to dive deep into the work of Black maternal health,” Spivey said. “However, we want to make sure it is a priority and commitment for all people and organizations working in the space of health equity.”
Black maternal health is fundamentally an issue of racial justice, equity and reproductive freedom. Jasmine Conrad, Communications Associate, said this is why the ACLU of Nebraska supports I Be Black Girl and Black Maternal Health Month.
“Black women and Black birthing people already face some of the greatest racial disparities in our country, and maternal health is one of the widest disparities faced,” Conrad said. “I Be Black Girl is taking that disparity head on with a full month of education, healing and empowerment.”
Conrad said no Black mother-to-be or birthing Nebraskan should be faced with the fear that their race could dictate the quality of care and information they receive.
“Our state’s current ranking of 19th in maternal mortality only shows that there is much work to do with access to maternal care overall, but for this month, we need to focus on Black mothers and birthing people who are faced with these disparities at a time that should be met with joy, support and quality medical care,” Conrad said.
I Be Black Girl is addressing this issue, setting October aside as an intentional time to focus on solutions, interventions and opportunities to change the outcomes for Black women and birthing folks.
Spivey said I Be Black Girl cannot do this work without the necessary resources. Follow this link to invest in Black women, femmes and girls.
To learn more about Black Maternal Health Month and to access the on-demand sessions, visit I Be Black Girl’s website.
“We know that if you center Black women and birthing folks in maternal health, all women and birthing people will benefit,” Spivey said.
