I’m Just Sayin # 136-
The Visibly Invisible-Voiced
The Visibly Invisible–
We see you but we choose to ignore your existence-
This Blog is a continuation of the Blog entitled-
“Racial Disparity in the Health Care Practices for Mother’s 0f Color-Back to our Roots!”
***For translation of the text of the blog: touch the Blue Globe on the top right-hand corner.
This blog is being dedicated to my sister Lark E. Galloway-Gilliam, who spent her life advocating for health equity for communities and women of color. She worked on both a national and international level and was supported in her work by the CDC, that recognized the importance of her work. http://larkegalloway-gilliamlegacy.org/
The Beauty of Life- “WE, the collective humanity of women, see you and we will advocate for you!
I was so blessed to have witnessed the beautiful experience of my niece’s pregnancy and birthing of our Aoluna outside of the confines of so call traditional conventional medical hospital experience. Leilani chose very intentionally to have a Mid-Wife and Doula as her way of bringing her daughter into this worldly plain.
She did her research and Great Spirit brought just the most perfect person and organization to do this “Big Work” of supporting her pregnancy and childbirth experience. If you had a chance to read my previous Blog on her experience with the doctor’s office, then you know how disappointed Lei and our family was on the indifference and lack of connection and concern that was shown for her and her baby.
This was an answer to our prayers and an answer to Leilani’s intentions and conviction she had to manifest the right people and right situation that would support this highly spiritual ritualistic journey.
It is an amazing to finally feel as a Black female and mother through this experience that there are sacred spaces where we are not invisible. In our larger American culture and society, we are the “Visibly Invisible”. Our mortality as Black women and Black infants is off the chart! In this day and age, I don’t understand why our women are given such lack of concern and interest. Overall, the CDC statistics for 2024 was U.S. maternal mortality was at 17.9 per 100.000 live births while Black mothers were 44.8 deaths per 100.000, White mothers were 14.2, Hispanic mothers were 12.1 deaths, and Asian mothers were 18.1 deaths.
You would think in terms of at least the medical system there would be some allegiance to providing health care for a mother regardless of the color of her skin. There is a real problem in this country that festers in racism that is still played out. I really admire organizations like “Sugarheal Gang, which works in concert with Black Maternity Healthcare Fund. These are the organizations that showed up for Leilani and Setelo her husband to not only bring her baby safely into this world but continued to be a community of health and care for she and the baby after the birth.
Can you imagine the difference in the health and welfare of our children if they have a healthy start to grow in from the womb to birth and are not traumatized but are received within the sacred space of ritual and love.
Can you imagine what a great beginning it is for a mother to have not only the emotional support of a partner and family, but to have someone with a medical knowledge and spiritual intuition to be in relationship with as your midwife?
Our Grandmother was a Mid-Wife, and my sister Patty is a Doula. We must celebrate the strength, intuition and tenacity that a mother must have to bring life into this world. We as woman of compassionate spirits have work to do!
In Closure to this Blog I want to highlight that –
We women of color do not have to be “The Visibly Invisible”. We are visible to Great Spirit who holds the truth of who we are and how valuable and precious we are. We must empower each other to stand in our truth of who we know ourselves to be. We are manifestations of Great Spirit, in it’s origin design for humanity. We have purpose! We are divine! We represent the depths of “Mother Earth’s” spiritual intuition. We must take hold of it and use it for ourselves and ignite it in others. We must form communities of support like we had in our tribal days of old.
So, breathe deeply! Close your eyes and visualize something that brings you back into homeostasis with your soul expression. May today bring you a sense of peace, joy, and moments of feeling loved and validated for who you are and what you are gifting humanity.
Ashé! Have a Blessed Day!
**Note: These recordings are based on my blog writings, and all of this comes through Spirit. The recordings are a reflection of the writings and are not edited because I do not want to alter what is coming to me through “Great Spirit”. I am not seeking perfection, only serving as a vessel to bring love, peace, and joy, to our humanity.
Thank You, Jim Brickman for your beautiful music that vibrates through this recording. This is a selection from his album – “Music to Quiet Your Mind and Sooth Your World”.
Stay in Touch: http://heart4kidsadvocacy.org/
