Summary

In Chapter 3, “Unequal Treatment,” Villarosa’s father’s poor medical treatment inspired her investment in “reporting a 2018 New York Times Magazine cover story, “Why America’s Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis” (44).

In 2017, Villarosa’s friend Katrina Anderson suggested she “write an article about women who die or almost die related to pregnancy and childbirth” (45). Although skeptical, Villarosa decided to investigate. While attending Brooklyn’s Decolonize Birth Conference, she met Latona Giwa, founder of “a social justice doula collective in New Orleans” (46).

Villarosa traveled to New Orleans “to shadow” Giwa (49). They visited her client Simone Landrum. After birthing a stillborn baby the previous year, Landrum was terrified her current pregnancy would end the same way. Landrum relayed her story to Villarosa. Although she had reported pain to her doctor throughout her pregnancy, her complaints went unattended. Before leaving, Villarosa promised...