In recent years, the conversation about black maternal health disparities and maternal health in America has become impossible to ignore—especially for Black women. Despite advances in medicine and technology, the United States continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy countries. And within our own communities, the gap between Black women and other racial groups remains deeply concerning.

The Hard Truth: What the Numbers Say

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s most current data from 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. This rate is more than three times higher than the rate for White women, which was 14.5 per 100,000 live births.

While the overall U.S. maternal mortality rate saw a significant decrease from 22.3 in 2022 to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, the rate for Black women increased slightly (from 49.5 in 2022 to 50.3 in 2023), showing this racial gap is not only persisting but, in some ways, widening.

• Black Women: 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.
• White Women: 14.5 deaths per 100,000 live births.
• Hispanic Women: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 live births.
• Asian Women: 10.7 deaths per 100,000 live births.

These figures point to a crisis rooted in long-standing inequities in access, quality of care, and systemic racism within the healthcare system.

Why the Gap Persists—Beyond Income

It’s easy to assume that better education or higher income might close this gap, but research consistently shows this isn’t true. Even highly educated Black women are still more likely to face life-threatening pregnancy complications than their White counterparts. This speaks to the heavy toll of:

• Implicit Bias: Healthcare providers may unknowingly underestimate symptoms, fail to take pain seriously, or overlook early warning signs in Black patients. Research has identified poor patient–provider communication and discrimination as factors in near-miss events for Black women.
• Systemic Factors: Many Black women live in “maternity care deserts”—areas with few or no obstetric providers. For example, a CDC essay found that women in rural Georgia face up to 50% higher maternal mortality risks, and Black women in rural Georgia have rates twice as high as their rural White counterparts.

The good news is that awareness is growing. More hospitals are beginning to adopt implicit bias training, and policies like Medicaid postpartum extensions (providing care for up to 12 months after birth) are expanding in some states. But real change requires you to be an active, confident partner in your own care.

Your Blueprint for Self-Advocacy: The ROOT Framework

Your voice is one of the strongest medicines you have. At Rooted in Violet & Co., we believe self-advocacy is a practice you grow into. That’s why we use the ROOT Framework —a simple, four-step blueprint that empowers you to speak up, seek clarity, and co-create your care plan with confidence.

R – Reveal What’s Going On

Be honest about your symptoms, concerns, and observations. This step is about self-awareness.

• Actionable Step: Track symptoms (like pain, swelling, or mood changes) in a journal or digital log. Look for patterns or triggers that may indicate an underlying issue.
• Empowerment Goal: Recognize that your body’s signals are valid and deserve investigation, not dismissal.

O – Offer Your Observations

Share specific, fact-based details about what you’ve noticed. This shifts awareness into clear communication.

• Actionable Step: Use specific, fact-based language (e.g., “My headache has been a 9 out of 10 for the last two days,” not “I feel bad”) when talking to your provider.
• Empowerment Goal: Become an active contributor in your healthcare conversation, not a passive participant.

O – Outline What You Need

Be clear about what you’re asking for. Define your expectations and needs.

• Actionable Step: Express preferences about diagnostic tests, treatment options, or a need for a second opinion or referral to a culturally competent provider. Ask, “Based on my symptoms, what test are we running today?”
• Empowerment Goal: Reclaim control over your care by identifying what success and support look like for you.

T – Take Notes & Follow-Up

Write down information and make a plan for next steps. This turns advocacy into accountability.

• Actionable Step: Document every conversation, diagnosis, and medical recommendation. Schedule follow-ups and set reminders for screenings or labs right away. Bringing a trusted person to appointments to take notes for you is key.
• Empowerment Goal: Turn advocacy into an ongoing practice that protects your health and builds trust with your providers.

A Call to Action

The statistics may sound daunting, but Black women are leading change—from community advocates to healthcare professionals rewriting the standards of care. By learning about these trends and using your voice—starting with the ROOT Framework—you are part of a movement that saves lives.

Practical Step for You: Members, access your Violet Sheet printable advocacy guide from RootedinViolet.com to walk you through the ROOT steps for conditions like hypertension or diabetes during your next visit.

Reflective Question: How can you or your community take one step this year to make childbirth safer for Black mothers?

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, February). Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2023/Estat-maternal-mortality.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, July 10). Confronting the Crisis: Actions to Address Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Among Black Women in Rural Georgia. Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, 250125. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/25_0125.htm

The Century Foundation. (2025, April 10). State of Maternal Health 2025. https://tcf.org/content/report/state-of-maternal-health-2025/

Hoyert, D. L. (2025, February). Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2023. National Center for Health Statistics Health E-Stats. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2023/Estat-maternal-mortality.pdf

McKinsey Health Institute. (2025, August 13). Closing the Black maternal-health gap: Healthier lives, stronger economies. https://www.mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility/our-insights/closing-the-black-maternal-health-gap-healthier-lives-stronger-economies

NIH. (2025, April 28). Dismantling inequities to end the black maternal mortality crisis in the United States. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12039294/

Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them. (2024, October 25). Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-efforts-to-address-them/