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I’m not a medical professional or medical researcher but I do participate in the health policy research community and currently write a blog on family issues. I did a serious on maternal health and found a lot of people had *no* idea that there were racial disparities. I did another one on Medicaid expansion and, again, surprised people with the overlap between states without Medicaid expansion and maternal health in black women. This trend appalls me. However, as a white lady, when I talked to my friend who is an MD and happens to be a black lady, I was told “while you know this about moms and babies, I can tell you my person experience with rotations shows me it is EVERYWHERE.” She now specializes in psych and talks relentlessly about how mental health for black people is just so different and complicated.

The research shows this. My recent research is smacking me in the face with racial disparities right now. My recommendation will be to target certain populations. In another health area, our research shows that with a certain program our state has implemented this as improved outcomes for black subjects MARKEDLY if they were targeted with specific services and equaled their results for white participants. Prior to these changes and in other states where there haven’t been these changes, there are huge disparities. Of course, no matter what we do or how loud ALL of us talk, it seems to be ignored. I am not sure what the solution is but I want to listen.

How can we as researchers studying policy assist moms and others with these issues? I’m at a loss but I’m listening and trying. Personally, too, I’m lobbying for change by demanding Medicaid expansion in our state and providing targeted programs to black moms who are most at-risk. But one person can only do so much. And there are a lot of nice white ladies I know who are more concerned with having their damn birth pool and treating that like it is the end of the world than with racial disparities in maternal mortality. I don’t want to be one of those ladies.

It is disgusting that this should be the case in our country in the 21st century.

Then again, look at how African-American children often are treated after birth in this country.

And look at the racists in Charlottesville trying to make the South rise again.

And look at the orange santorum-covered abomination who currently occupies the Oval Office, who didn’t decry the events in Charlottesville.

*sigh*