Lexington Books
Pages: 358
Trim: 6 x 9
978-1-66693-839-5 • Hardback • February 2025 • $120.00 • (£92.00)
978-1-66693-840-1 • eBook • December 2024 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
Karen Antoinette Scott, MD, MPH, FACOG is an improvement and implementation scientist activist, community OBGYN, and applied epidemiologist currently serving as the Chief Black Feminist Physician Scientist, CEO, and Owner of Birthing Cultural Rigor, LLC.
Chapter 1: When Existing Paradigms Never Served Us
Chapter 2: Racism: Manifestations of anti-Black Racism and Misogynoir
Chapter 3: Safety and Accountability
Chapter 4: Bodily and Decisional Autonomy
Chapter 5: Communication and Information Exchange
Chapter 6: Given and Chosen Kinship
Chapter 7: Holistic Care: Empathy, Humanity, and Dignity in Blackness
Chapter 8: Emancipating Black Reproducing Bodies and Black Births
References
“A profound exploration of obstetric racism, illuminating the systemic inequities that Black women face during childbirth in the U.S. healthcare system. By applying a Black feminist framework, Dr. Scott effectively critiques traditional paradigms of obstetric care, revealing how they perpetuate harm and neglect the voices of Black mothers. She introduces the SACRED Birth framework, a transformative approach prioritizing the lived experiences of Black women, advocating for a reimagined standard of care that addresses historical injustices. Through rigorous analysis and innovative solutions, it challenges healthcare professionals to recognize and combat the pervasive effects of structural racism. This work not only underscores the urgent need for systemic change but also empowers marginalized voices, making it a crucial contribution to the discourse on maternal health equity. This is essential reading for anyone invested in understanding and dismantling the barriers faced by Black birthing individuals, ultimately aiming to create a safer and more equitable healthcare environment for everybody."
— Dana-Ain Davis, Queens College, The City University of New York
“A game-changer! Grounded in public health critical race methodology, this book unapologetically centers and uplifts Black women’s voices. With boldness and compassion, Dr. Scott provides practical guidance to healthcare institutions and clinicians to transform the way they provide care to Black families. This book is a huge contribution to field of maternal and child health and should be a required text to support the training of clinicians in anti-Black racism and racial equity nationally."
— Brittany Chambers Butcher, University of California, Davis