Narrowing the Gap of Black Women’s Burden

Abstract

Administrators working within the public health approach to health issues generate information used to mobilize against a particular plight. The March of Dimes, which from its founding has developed public education campaigns to address child-related health issues such as polio and German measles, is no different. This chapter chronicles the organization’s intervention approach to addressing maternal and child health issues. Interviews with key administrators document how the March of Dimes takes up the issues of racial disparity and premature birth. However, as this chapter shows, there is a difference between characterizing racial disparity for the purpose of raising awareness about premature birth rates and addressing medical racism, which are an integral part of the content of Black women’s reproductive experiences.