There isn’t much that hasn’t
already been said about the power
of voting. In a society in which
many aspects of our livelihoods
aren’t
controlled
by
us,
it
is
important that we at least have a
say on who is allowed to lead our
nation. As citizens of the U.S.,
we aren’t necessarily given the
chance to determine the future of
healthcare policy or the allocation
of public school funding. Casting
our vote is the only way we can
ensure that our interests are taken
into consideration when decisions
are being made that directly affect
our lives. While the importance
of voting needs to be constantly
reiterated, it is a topic that is heavily
discussed. What deserves more
attention is the power of the Black
vote specifically.
As the current election cycle
continues to unfold, the ability of
13% of the population to control
the results of the Democratic
presidential campaigns has become
increasingly clear. In recent months,
both Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders
have
experienced
devastating
lows and unexpected highs in
the polls, and four candidates —
Tom Steyer, Pete Buttigieg, Mike
Bloomberg, and Kamala Harris
have ended their campaigns. All of
these phenomena have at least one
common denominator—they were
influenced by how these candidates
were perceived by Black voters. For
the bulk of 2019, and even some
of 2020, Biden’s kryptonite was
young Black voters. His stance on
bussing, his revealed lack of support
for Anita Hill in her sexual assault
case against Clarence Thomas, and
his blaming of Black mothers for
the racial achievement gap caused a
rocky foundation for his campaign.
However, the South Carolina polls,
which are made up largely of Black
voters, revived Biden’s chances
in the same way they devastated
Buttigieg and Steyer’s. And as for
Kamala Harris, her questionable
stances on issues that are most
pertinent to Black voters, as well as
her perceived lack of authenticity
when it came to her comments on
racial justice, led to her slowed
momentum
and
decreased
availability of funds. In the past
six months, the ability of the Black
vote to be either the kiss of death
or the source of life for any given
campaign has become increasingly
clear. There is no denying the power
of the black vote.
The only thing left to happen is
for the people with this power to
take advantage of it. Historically,
this hasn’t been seen as a viable
option.
This
country’s
track
record of disenfranchisement and
discriminatory
voting
practices
has, understandably, stolen our
community’s
sense
of
hope.
However, as contradictory as this
may seem, utilizing this system is
the only way to stop it from abusing
us. Voting in people who represent
us and our values is one of the best
things we can do to create a system
that works more for our benefit.
Even as the Democratic primaries
come to a close, this message
remains important. It is one that
extends to every political office that
we are able to vote on, from the local
level to the national level. There is
power in the Black vote, and it needs
to be harnessed.
On March 10, five states held
their primaries (Idaho, Michigan,
Mississippi,
Missouri
and
Washington), while North Dakota
held their Democratic caucuses.
As a first time voter, I made sure to
plan out when I was going to stand
in line to exercise my right to vote —
after attending the Bernie Sanders’
rally on Sunday, I felt even more
empowered to let my voice be heard
on that day because I had faith in my
peers to “fight for someone that they
didn’t know”.
But in this spirit of excitement
to vote, I couldn’t help but think
about what my vote meant today; a
topic which was on my mind heavily
this election cycle was in regards
to what is being done to address
the current Black maternal health
crisis (while also thinking about
access to quality healthcare services
that include family planning and
reproductive health). Some past
potential Democratic presidential
candidates such as Kamala Harris,
Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and
Kirsten Gillibrand have introduced
legislation to address this issue.
Numbers do not lie: Black women
are three to four times more likely to
die during childbirth from pregnancy-
related complications than white
women; the United States has some
of the worst maternal mortality
rates in the developed world. And
Black women are twice as likely to
lose an infant to premature death.
Further, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention reports that
60% of the 24.6 deaths per 1,000
live births are preventable. These
figures have also been adjusted for
education and income. Maternal
mortality disproportionately affects
Black women and should not be
taken at face-value — racial health
disparities and patient-doctor trust
are some of the main factors that
contribute to this crisis. The pain
Black women may report to their
healthcare providers may not be
taken seriously or downplayed.
Most importantly, the structural
systems of racism Black women have
to navigate daily in the workplace
and public spaces can take a toll on
their physical health.
Luckily, a group of legislators
acted on this racial health disparity
and made history today.
The
Black
Maternal
Health
Caucus was created in the United
States Congress by Reps. Lauren
Underwood (D-Ill) and Alma Adams
(D-N.C.) back in April of 2019 to
address this crisis; the caucus has
grown to hold 75 members. And
today these members made history
for the future of Black maternal
health through the introduction
of nine bills to the U.S. House of
Representatives - the Black Maternal
Health Momnibus Act of 2020. This
Act is a set of comprehensive bills
that “aims to fill gaps in existing
legislation to improve the health
outcomes for Black moms who are
dying at three to four more times the
rate of their White counterparts.”
The goal of these bills center on
the care of Black mothers, so that
they receive “comprehensive, and
culturally-competent care”; Reps.
Underwood expressed at a press
conference that the Black maternal
health crisis is a national priority.
A summary of what the legislation
entails can be found on Reps. Lauren
Underwood’s website.
Black maternal health is an issue
that will have to continue to be
addressed in all levels of government
as well as in classroom settings
centered around Public Health,
Policy, Psychology, Women’s Studies
and many other disciplines to stir up
healthy dialogue. In the meantime,
hopefully
the
Black
Maternal
Health Momnibus Act 2020 will
bring real change to how healthcare
is provided and create safe spaces
in the healthcare industry for Black
mothers.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan in Color
Monday, March 16, 2020 — 4
KAYLA THOMAS
MiC Staff Blogger
MICHAELA MINNIS
MiC Columnist
The Black Maternal Health Crisis: The Beginning of An End
I became hip to Noname’s Book
Club this past summer. Noname, a
rapper and organizer from Chicago,
started a book club to uplift voices
of color by highlighting two books
each month for online and in person
community
members
to
read.
February was the first time I was
able to read along. I choose to read
a collection of poems by Morgan
Parker called “Magical Negro”.
I’ve always loved to read books,
especially work written by Black
people but poetry is a whole other
realm for me. I feel as if some poems
go over my head and I have to read
over and over until I force meaning
out of it. I felt that way about some
of the poems in “Magical Negro” but
the majority of them I could relate on
a level I didn’t realize would connect
with me, especially pertaining to my
experiences as a Black woman.
One poem in particular titled
“Now More Than Ever” really struck
a chord with me. Parker writes about
the way in which people use the
saying, “now more than ever” to talk
about social issues and politics. This
phrase has been utilized so regularly
by the privileged after 2016. They
say, “Now more than ever, it is
important that we stand together
to fight against hate” or “Now more
than ever, we have to uplift the most
marginalized,” and so on. I’m tired
of hearing this bullshit.
So many people have obliviously
walked through the world thinking
things were getting better, more
tolerant, and accepting. Clinging so
dearly onto the Obama presidency
and the legalization of gay marriage
while turning a blind eye on the
increases of deportations, lead-
poisoned water in Flint, MI, and
the lack of administrative change
being done to stop police violence
towards Black citizens. Activists of
color, especially Black activists and
organizers have been saying these
things for decades.
CAMILLE MOORE
MiC Blogger
Now More Than Ever
The Power of the Black Vote
Images (above and below) from Daniela Lugo, MiC Senior Creative Content Editor