Protecting Corporate Pockets at the Expense of Black Mothers

When the systems fail us, it's time to rewrite the rules.

In 2018, I discovered a tragic reality–the alarmingly high mortality rates among Black mothers.

This data point led me down a path that was as enlightening as it was alarming.

The high rate of c-sections among Black mothers wasn't about medical necessity. Convenience and profit drove this trend, leading me to question: are these mothers making informed choices, or are they being subtly coerced? Today, the healthcare decisions that govern our lives are powered by algorithms and AI. But how often do we stop to question the integrity of the data we're being guided by?

My journey, stretching from maternal health to health technology, unveiled considerable flaws in the tools we trust as industry standards.

I recently had the privilege of discussing some of these findings with Carolinas' Own Queen City News, WJZY-TV (you can find the full interview here).

But let me be very clear–this issue extends way beyond tech and data.

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It's a mirror reflecting deeper societal ills such as racism, sexism, and a distressing lack of empathy. Capitalist structures perpetuate these problems by prioritizing their agendas over lives, exploiting patients, and acting without true accountability.

We can no longer live in a society that places profit over people.

And oddly enough, I have found that #marketing plays a pivotal role in this issue. Many think it’s merely about selling more goods and services. It’s not.

It's more about the power and influence that marketing has on our society. The kind of influence that orchestrates powerful narratives, swaying public opinion and behaviors. Or marketing that takes advantage of public fear through widespread campaigns.

Public health and marketing are more intertwined than many even realize.

Every day, medically unproven products are marketed as 'essential' for maternal and infant health, often reinforcing societal biases related to race and gender (for more, read the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Warning here).

To add fuel to the fire, healthcare systems are increasingly being compelled to adopt the 'newest' technology without a critical eye for embedded bias, or what I like to call “coded inequity.”

The collateral damage and invisible hand of injustice can no longer be ignored to protect corporate pockets.

Systemic disruption is not an option–but a necessity.

Tap into your power.

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Stand against injustice.

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Advocate for your rights.

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Start a ripple of change that could become a tidal wave.

Because as we fight for #healthequity, remember that every voice matters, and every action counts. Your contribution, however small, could be the spark that ignites the change and the catalyst that tips the scale toward #justice and #equality.

Let's reshape the narrative of maternal health together.

In health and solidarity,

K