UPDATE: The tragic death of Janell Green Smith, a dedicated midwife and maternal health advocate, has ignited urgent conversations about the alarming crisis in Black maternal health. Green Smith passed away on January 1, 2024, just days after giving birth to her daughter, Eden, highlighting the systemic issues that disproportionately affect Black mothers.
Green Smith, 31, was hospitalized on Christmas Eve due to severe preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related condition. After delivering her daughter via emergency C-section on December 26, she encountered severe complications requiring additional surgery. Family members reported that her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to her untimely death. This incident underscores a grim reality: Black women are at a heightened risk during childbirth, with mortality rates soaring to 47.4 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black mothers, compared to just 18.3 deaths for other racial groups.
Green Smith’s death has resonated deeply within her community and beyond. “We cannot continue to lose our women,” said Nichole Wardlaw, Green Smith’s aunt and a fellow midwife. “She was my comrade in this fight. And now she is gone.” The profound loss has led to vigils in Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina, attended by fellow midwives, family, and friends.
Despite her extensive experience, having participated in over 300 births, Green Smith was unable to secure a midwife for her own pregnancy. This tragic oversight is a stark reflection of the systemic disparities within the healthcare system. Authorities point to factors including implicit bias and inadequate access to quality care as contributing to these rising mortality rates. The American College of Nurse-Midwives issued a statement, deeming her death “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” emphasizing that Black women face disproportionate risks during pregnancy and childbirth.
Green Smith was known for her relentless commitment to improving Black maternal health. “I wanted to do something about it,” she had stated in a video posted in April 2024, speaking about her motivation to enter midwifery. Her colleagues remember her as a compassionate caregiver who went above and beyond for her patients, often working on her days off to provide support.
The emotional impact of her death has been felt nationwide, prompting renewed calls for accountability and systemic change. The National Black Nurses Association emphasized that “her credentials did not protect her,” reflecting the stark reality that even qualified professionals are not immune to the systemic failures within healthcare.
In response to this tragedy, local leaders and health advocates are calling for immediate reforms to address the disparities in maternal health care. “More than 80% of maternal deaths are considered preventable,” said Dr. Chris T. Pernell, director of the NAACP’s Center for Health Equity. “The will is not there to solve an issue that unfortunately has not gotten better.”
As the community mourns Green Smith’s passing, it is clear that her legacy will resonate in the fight for better healthcare access and outcomes for Black mothers. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated; communities are rallying together to demand change and ensure that no more lives are lost to preventable complications in childbirth.
The spotlight on this crisis is growing, and with it, the hope that meaningful change will follow. As advocates mobilize, the message is clear: we must not only remember Janell Green Smith but also honor her memory by striving for justice in maternal healthcare.
