action after a black mother in labor is discharged from an Indiana hospital and gives birth in a car just 8 minutes later, the Chicago area mother Marcedes Wells spent hours at the hospital until her contractions were a minute apart before she was told she was being discharged.

>> we get transfer her to a different season tonight?

>> Anyone has ever been in Labor knows Wells had her baby in a car on her way to another hospital, but says the baby girl is doing well.

Now.

It comes just days after another high profile case in Texas where viral video showed Kerry Jones in visible pain.

Answer numerous questions before getting a delivery room.

The cases are raising questions over the treatment of black pregnant women and renewing conversations over medical racism.

Joining us now are Chad Smith, founder of Girls in the Hood and organization dedicated to providing young black girls and women with reproductive health care and resources.

Kerri Stewart, a certified nurse midwife with DUI Health and founder of Melanie did midwives and Blair Imani, author and creator of the TikTok series smarter in seconds.

She's also a commentator on issues of structural racism and is currently pregnant.

Congratulations on that.

Blair, thanks to all of you for joining us.

First, I want to get your reaction when you saw these videos circulating years.

Carrie Jones in Texas and the Wells family here in Indiana.

Smith first will be what was your reaction when you saw those discussed?

That was my first reaction.

Honestly could not watch the video in his full segment.

I had to keep coming back to it in part because it was so trigger.

you know, as a mother as a black mother.

>> And just as a woman period, you know, to see someone in that type of situation pay.

So I will say that just I was disgusted, but I wasn't a part Not surprised.

Okay.

Want to come back to Kerri Stewart was your reaction.

>> You know, unfortunately, I have to agree, very discuss it quite disappointing.

you know, just traumatized myself as a black woman as a mom and I could not vice the entire thing myself because as you can see, as you start to look at it, you know, this is what's going to happen.

And again, just very disappointed that these 2 young women had to experience those situations.

>> Larry money.

>> I have to echo both because it's just so terrifying.

You know, being 9 months pregnant myself.

You know, I'm ready to give birth any moment and the entirety of my pregnancy, the maternal mortality rate and systemic racism have been top of mind.

And so to see the worst case scenario play out, not just once but twice on video in full resolution is just really.

She just that makes you want to shutter.

It makes you cringe.

It makes you afraid.

But I also, you know, I'm leaning into my support system.

My OBGYN on last appointment brought it up before I did because she knows what her by patients are going through.

And it's really just unacceptable.

Hensel, if discussing and disappointing.

As you say, you weren't surprised.

don't know why not.

>> Yeah, I mean, this is what black women have been screamin but write a big case that our concerns are dismissed are paying is This is not taken seriously.

And as we saw that woman with invisible pay right.

And so, yeah, we've been saying this for the long isn't so well.

I hate that.

It was after the and his manner.

I'm glad that it is raising awareness that we need to.

Hopefully, you know, come up with some solutions to today's situation.

>> But yeah, I was a surprise it out.

This is what we've been saying to that point, though, this feels like an issue that we've been talking about publicly not.

You know, obviously these women have been talking about for some time, but publicly for the last several years.

Kerry.

>> Why does this seem to have not improved?

>> Because providers and institutions and not being intentional on caring for people their community.

And so, you know, I said this earlier today talking to my colleagues.

Yes, we had pro to cars.

Yes, everybody's time in a fit into that situation.

But everybody Labor's differently.

She's not hauling.

She's not screaming.

That does not mean her pain is at a 10 12.

And so you need to use common sense to know that the lady did not need to be discharged, especially if this is our 4th child we know is providers that someone can go from 3 to complete in a matter of 8 minutes.

As we saw.

And so I think we're just not.

As much you know, everybody likes to say, listen, listen, listen, I'm listening not acting appropriately and that's the problem.

>> Most recent figures show that while maternal mortality nationwide has declined since its peak in 2022. black women are still more likely to die in childbirth.

50 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 14.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women, LARRY money, what we know about the causes for these disparities.

>> You know, when we look at these different outcomes for different community, sometimes because of consciously think, well, that must because, you know, hypertension is more common in the community or this illness is more common when it comes to the black maternal mortality rate.

I'm sad to say that it is because of systemic racism.

It is because of medical racism.

It is because of systemic bias.

It's because we have medical students who are being caught as recently as 2020 that black people have thicker skin or that we do have this high pain tolerance, things that are rooted in complete.

Pseudo science but are still being, you know, cause fact.

And it goes all the way back Marion Jason's and the creation of an oncology as you know, as a health care system.

But what we see again and again is that this isn't something that is specific to a specific education bracket.

It's not specific to an income bracket.

It is something that all black women are dealing with an indigenous women as well are dealing with it there to times more likely to pass during due to pregnancy-related cause as well.

As you work with young black women and teens in pregnancy were some of the challenges in getting them the support and care they need.

>> So bad for our girls.

You know, they are faces stigma and judgment just right off the bat, right for being a teen.

Mom would be it.

You know, a young parent.

And so when encounter it, the healthcare system that just goes is so bad.

We get calls from girls who are crying were in tears.

And you know to so mean to me here.

So from the point entry from registration to triage to about a time to get to the provided is so beat up this spirit that so broken, right.

And I want people to understand it.

Why isn't that a business on, you know how someone got pregnant while they're pregnant at their age and things like that?

That's number one.

Number sometimes things happen because of assault, you know, abuse of things.

I imagine how you're making this situation worse for our girls.

And so growth foundation we out there will just jump in the hood mobile and go to the clinic appointments with the girls to advocate for them.

We decent and with little notebook so that they you know, take notes.

And right now, providers names and things like that.

But really hands-on with them to try to south and those polls.

Kerry, tell us a little bit about the work of Melanie did midwives briefly and in the kind of support that you all aim to provide to lower black maternal mortality >> we're really trying to aim for diversification of the workforce.

And we know that we need more providers that look like individuals that they care for in the community.

We know that, unfortunately, some of the dei measures have, you know, been barriers for us to do so.

But words still boots on the ground, trying to get folks educated, found that wise and other health care providers that they could do as a career choice.

And so if that means we're providing resources such as scholarships and internships, but also just doing more education community for families about how to select the right institution had to select the right provider.

What things you can do to advocate for yourself.

And these women were advocating for this effort is very hard to do so when you're in labor, so having that support system, too, be able to advocate getting considering that would free care and knowing that there are other options and other places that you can go that are providing care.

That is support your needs and your wishes.

>> Now, we should mention we do have an official statement from France get Franciscan Health, which is where the Wells family initially went.

That says that they found concerns deeply troubling and that they are, quote, committed to meeting and exceeding all regulations and best practices for care and we will take appropriate action based on the findings of our review.

They say they'll be conducting a thorough investigation.

Larry money we've got under a minute left.

What is that enough?

What what needs to change here?

>> We need entire systems change.

We need more embrace delivering care anymore.

Embrace of doula care.

We need that to be more accessible.

We also have an extremely hostile administration in this moment which is spreading misinformation about guidance for pregnant people about things like what pain relief are allowed to use.

And so this is the worst time.

But because of organizations like girls in the hood needed midwives like birth, unlike Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this is It's really the community stepping up and showing up for one another lifting as we climb.

And you know that we will get through these difficult times through the support of one another, as we always have.

But it's going to take wild to see more systems change.

But we have to continue to speak up and we can't just do it when something goes viral.

So this was in a week and then on that for many people, I hope that continues.

All right.

That's where we'll have to leave it.

A best of luck for wishing you a safe and joyful delivery.

Blair Imani chose Ms.

Kerri Stewart, thanks to you all for joining us.

Thank you.

>> Thank you.

Brandon.

And we're back right after this.

>> Reflecting the people and