It’s Black Maternal Health Week 2025 (BMHW). The campaign is dedicated to building community, raising awareness and developing solutions to eliminate disparities impacting Black maternal health.

 

Founded and led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a national network of maternal health, human rights and reproductive justice organizations and leaders, BMHW amplifies the experiences of Black women, who face significantly higher rates of maternal mortality compared with other racial groups.

 

Black women died at a rate nearly 3.5 times higher than white women in 2023, Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023 reports.

 

 

Marked annually from April 11 to 17, BMHW celebrates the power of Black-led health organizations specializing in perinatal, maternal and reproductive health and underscores the role of community in helping to create a better future for Black mothers.

 

To drive systemic change and foster community healing, this year’s theme, “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy,”

emphasizes the need for healing at personal and community levels while acknowledging the legacies of systemic oppression, reproductive injustice and health inequities affecting Black mothers.

 

 

The campaign features virtual and in-person events throughout the United States, including the 8th Annual Black Maternal Health Week Walk and Block Party in Atlanta. A combination walk and health fair, the event took place April 12 and featured live entertainment, food, games and more.

 

Check out the official campaign website to learn about events near you.

 

 

The campaign aligns with International Day for Maternal Health and Rights (April 11), a global call to action to improve maternal health outcomes and recognize the fundamental right of every woman to access high-quality, safe maternal health care.

 

 

 

Download the BMHW tool kit, which features key facts, talking points, graphics and shareable social media posts. Use #BMHW2025, #BlackMaternalHealthWeek or #BlackMamasMatter to spread the word on social media engage others.

 

To read more, click #Maternal Health or #Pregnancy. There, you’ll find headlines such as “Poor Neighborhoods Linked to Heart Failure in New Black Mothers,” “U.S. Maternal Mortality Decreased in 2023, Remains High Among Black Women” and “Black Women Are More Likely to Have Unnecessary C-Sections.”