Ohio black lawmakers unveil legislative priorities on Juneteenth

Black mothers are more likely to die in childbirth or within a year of giving birth, but Rep. Erica Crawley says putting those women into broad race categories can confuse the conversation around health-care disparity.

The Columbus Democrat wants a pregnancy-associated mortality review board that would be established under state law — if it is maintained in the final version of the budget — to “disaggregate” more granular race data that will help officials study the medical and social factors that contribute to mothers dying in pregnancy.

The budget amendment was among several legislative initiatives the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus highlighted Wednesday in honor of Juneteenth, a national celebration of the day the last slaves were freed on June 19, 1865.

“We know about the disparities. Unfortunately, African American and black families are usually on the short end of the receiving stick,” said Rep. Stephanie Howse, a Cleveland Democrat who leads the caucus.

Read more: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190619/ohio-black-lawmakers-unveil-legislative-priorities-on-juneteenth
(Columbus Dispatch)