Howard University Men’s Basketball Team Addresses Maternal Health

CNN
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The men’s basketball team at Howard University joins the fight to protect black maternal health at a time when black women are at increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and death.

The team will host a special event ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Mamatoto Village, an organization focused on combating racism and health disparities for black mothers. The event will be held on Sunday in Washington, D.C., and the team will help package the pregnancy care kit.

The Howard team coach says players decided to focus on the issue after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.

In many states, black and Hispanic women are more likely to have abortions than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects data from state health agencies.

According to the CDC, black women are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications and are also more likely to encounter racial discrimination from health care providers.

“Women’s health issues are not just women’s health issues,” Howard basketball coach Kenny Blakeney told CNN. “Everyone is affected by this, not just women, but also men.”

Blakeney said he will recruit players he thinks will help carry on the university’s legacy of social justice work.

“When we recruit student-athletes to Howard, we don’t just recruit them to represent us on the basketball court,” Blakeney said.

Blakeney says he allows teams to choose which social justice activities they want to participate in each year. After the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned, his players felt they had to do something for the health of black mothers.

Guard and team captain Jelani Williams said he believes it’s important for players to use their platform to shed light on important but under-told issues.

“We have black mothers, aunts, cousins, and friends, and we felt that was… a good issue to shine a light on,” Williams said.

Freshman forward Shane Odom says he immediately endorsed the project.

“I was a little bit involved with it,” Odom said. “I have a black single mother. She gave birth to me very young and I empathize with that, so I think she will be a good reason to support.”

Mamatoto’s organizers thank the basketball team for their efforts and say they agree that black mothers’ health problems affect men as well.

Executive Director Aza Nedari said black maternal health is not a “single burden” for black women. She adds that black men are also responsible. “Black men are fathers and brothers,” Nedari said.

Nedhari appreciates all support for her organization.

“It’s always refreshing when a black man joins us to improve an ongoing problem,” Nedari said. and all responsibility for improving social problems.”