Nationwide, Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at a rate three times higher compared to white women, regardless of income level and education.
The Black maternal health crisis is one that not even Olympic track stars can outrun. Three gold medalists from the U.S. Olympic 4×100 relay team – Allyson Felix, Tianna Madison, and Tori Bowie – faced serious complications during pregnancy. Tori Bowie died before she could give birth. This crisis also impacts Black babies, who die at three times the rate of white babies, during their initial hospital stays.