PHOTOS: Surge Reproductive Justice Hosts Film Screening For Black Maternal Health Week
Surge Reproductive Justice, led by Executive Director Jackie Vaughn, and My Time for Massage recently hosted a screening of the documentary “The Ebony Canal” at Rainier Arts Center to commemorate Black Maternal Health Week. The event aimed to highlight community-led solutions, joy, and the resilience required to ensure every family experiences healthy Black births.
By bringing this Emmy and NAACP Image Award-winning film narrated by Viola Davis to Seattle, Vaughn sought to use the power of storytelling to spark the urgency and emotion necessary to address the maternal health crisis. The event included a panel discussion and Q&A with the film’s director, Emmai Alaquiva.
Vaughn pointed to the systemic issues facing Black women in Washington, where 82% of maternal deaths are preventable, according to a recent CDC report. To combat this, Surge advocates for birth justice rooted in ancestral wisdom and Black Southern traditions, specifically through the expansion of doula care and Medicaid reimbursement, she said.
This community gathering also celebrated significant policy milestones achieved through the Good Black Birth Initiative, a collective of Black-led organizations including Open Arms Perinatal Services (@openarmsperinatalservices) and Global Perinatal Services. Through their advocacy, the state of Washington and King County issued their first-ever proclamations recognizing Black Maternal Health Week.
Learn more about Surge Reproductive Justice at surgereprojustice.org
Photos: Mujale Chisebuka
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