Black Mothers and Our COVID-19 Legacy

I have an urgent appeal from one Black mother to other Black mothers. Here are four things we can do to come out of this pandemic stronger — gleaned from my experience with the Black Child Legacy Campaign.

The United States is a hard place to live if you are Black. Period. You can be old or young and Black; male, female or nonbinary and Black; poor or rich and Black. Our common Blackness subjects us to racial bias that negatively impacts our being, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated. This article is not, however, an explanation of how and why Blacks have long shouldered serious health disparities (although factual and serious). This is a call to action to prepare ourselves, our families and our communities for life after this pandemic.

4 Actions for Black Mothers to Strengthen Our Families’ Legacies:

1. Our Babies:The United States has one of the worst Black infant and maternal health rates among progressive nations. Since we got here, Black women have borne children and raised families under oppressive conditions and received inequitable access to high-quality health care, which affects us to this day. There is nothing progressive or impressive about ourBlack perinatal or maternal health statistics. And, despite sentiments like “we’re all in this together,” the pandemic healthdata shows us that undeniable health and economic disparities are impacting the number of coronavirus cases in Black communities across the country.

We need a new way — generated by Black women — of bringing health and wellness to Black mothers and babies. We must build the right resources and holistic medical and community connections that insures the health of our most vulnerable. Through the Black Child Legacy Campaign we brought together trusted community leaders and organizations with shared resources to save Black babies. In Sacramento, we’ve seen a reduction in Black child mortality — and in the disparities in data between Black children and other populations — including fewer sleep-related infant deaths and zero youth homicides in twenty-seven months. Through powerful partnerships, we’re building the infrastructure for safety and health, as defined and led by the community.

Check out Senator Kamala Harris’ roundtable to think about solutions to go further to protect the health of our mothers and babies.

2. Our Family Success Plan:Now, more than ever, your partnership with your mate or community of support requires a united vision to keep optimism and joy in our homes. Take the time to set some family goals. What’s the plan for you, your kids, your home, your finances? What is your timeline over the next month, 6 months, year 1, year 5 — post COVID? What are the real-time precautions we should all know and build into our family safety plan?

Many of our partners are still on the front lines working daily. Some of us are dealing with partners that are locked up or ill and, as a result, at a greater health risk. This conversation — including for single moms and their networks — are important and timely. Start jotting down your family success plan with your partner in parenting this week.

3. Our Education:Our legacy will live in how we emotionally support and educate our kids now and how we respond during the months and years after this crisis. How can we move away from the school systems’ archaic harvest schedule built for 19thcentury farmers? How can our schools and educators protect our children, rather than support systems that disproportionately punish them? How can we be certain that all Black kids are not left behind by the gap of in-person instruction?Let’s be radical with our imaginationson how we can revolutionize the education system to work better for Black kids.

4. Our Cultural Pride:It’s incredibly difficult to work, parent and homeschool your children, as many of us do. But here’s the good news: We can use this time to build and reinforce in them a sense of cultural pride not found in most schools. A strong cultural identity has been proven to positively impact kids’ learning.

My kindergartner is learning about Harriet Tubman this week — watching kid videos about her, color pictures related to her journey and reading related stories. Is your child interested in baseball? Enter hall of famer Leroy Satchel Paige. Are they a history buff? Let’s explore the kingdoms of West Africa. Would they like to be a dancer? Alvin Ailey’s performances are on YouTube and good for all ages. You don’t need to have all of the answers, but you can fan the flames of their intellectual curiosity in a way that supplements the materials received from their school.

Most importantly: from one Black mother to another, know that whatever you’re doing, you’re doing a great job. We can lean on and learn from each other because, you and me? We’re in this together.

Kindra Montgomery-Block is Associate Director of Community and Economic Development at Sierra Health Foundation and The Center, and staff lead of the Black Child Legacy Campaign. She’s a wife and mother living in Sacramento, California.