Re-Envisioning Various Forms of Racialized Stress as a Social Determinant of Black Maternal Health

This paper examines forms of racialized stress experienced by Black mothers throughout the life course. The literature suggests that racialized pre- and post-natal stress experienced within health care settings tend to create pathways for negative physical and mental health outcomes. These outcomes highlight the need for critical resources to improve the quality of maternal mental health among Black birthing populations. We incorporate perspectives from social work - Grand Challenge to Eliminate Racism and sociology to re-envision the exhaustive efforts made by Black mothers to protect their children in the face of racism. Our analysis suggests that Black mothers often exercise agency to resist mental health effects that may impair their ability to parent in a healthy manner. Resilience may emerge in the form of cognitive flexibility and the healing power of spirituality. Strategies to eliminate racism include adoption of an anti-racist perspective inclusive of an intersectionality paradigm as well as qualitative methodologies to address interlocking systems of sexism and racism experienced by Black mothers throughout their parenting journey.