By Dana Sherrod
Guest Columnist
The maternal health crisis in California and across the nation is not a new phenomenon. For decades, Black women and birthing individuals have faced disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, a direct result of systemic racism embedded in health care systems and public health policies.
As the executive director of the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice and a Black mother who survived a complication during childbirth, also called a maternal near miss, I know firsthand that effective solutions must center around the voices and lived experiences of impacted communities.
This isn’t just about identifying disparities, it’s about addressing the root causes of inequity. Yet time and again, institutions — even those with good intentions — adopt top-down approaches that sideline the expertise of community advocates. A poignant example is California’s recently proposed Maternal Health Blueprint, spearheaded by the state’s Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos.
Following a six-page letter outlining a myriad of concerns in late October, the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice and a multidisciplinary collective of maternal health leaders met with the surgeon general to discuss the blueprint. The group collectively urged a pause in the rollout to incorporate robust community feedback and avoid exacerbating potential harm to already impacted communities. We were assured that the blueprint was “just the beginning,” and requests to halt it were effectively denied.
Unfortunately, this response illustrates a recurring institutional and political pattern: treating community expertise as an optional supplement rather than the essential foundation. The danger of this approach lies in perpetuating the very disparities the blueprint aims to address.
Well-meaning institutions often strive to solve systemic issues with methods and strategies that have proved ineffective. To create meaningful change, we must shift our collective definition of experts and hold the experiences of those rooted in communities in equal regard.
Across California, organizations like Beloved Black Birth Centering, the Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence out of Charles Drew University, and community doula organizations such as Frontline Doulas demonstrate that community-driven strategies work. These initiatives provide culturally responsive care that addresses the unique needs of Black birthing families and produces more positive outcomes and experiences.
The maternal health crisis demands bold, systemic action that centers the voices of those most affected. This is not merely about representation; it is about accountability.
Institutions and policymakers must recognize that real solutions come from collaboration with the communities they serve. The California Coalition for Black Birth Justice remains steadfast in our mission to unify the Black birth justice movement and amplify Black women’s voices.
In 2023, we released a California Black Birth Justice Agenda outlining strategic vision and strategies for a path forward. Other reports and data, led predominately by Black women, have similarly called out strategies for change, such as the Centering Black Mothers in California report and the Road to Black Birth Justice.
We have more than enough data and clarified strategies to move forward if we only heed Black leaders’ direction. We continue to call on the surgeon general and other decision makers to pause, listen and learn from those who have dedicated their lives to dismantling these disparities. It’s time to prioritize action, accountability and the courage to lead with community-driven, evidence-based solutions.
Dana Sherrod is the co-founder and executive director of the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice.
LIFTOUT
The California Coalition for Black Birth Justice remains steadfast in our mission to unify the Black birth justice movement and amplify Black women’s voices.
