“We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.” – Fannie Lou Hamer (1964)
Medicaid Expansion is vital in providing healthcare to those in need. Expanding Medicaid in Black communities has been proven to drastically increase the number of individuals with health insurance and reduce the uninsured population, providing greater access to primary health care and preventive services.
Black Voters Matter (BVM) announced its new “Sick and Tired” initiative, as part of its #StateofEmergency campaign, which will focus on mobilizing Black voters, young people, grassroot organizers and policymakers around the need for Medicaid expansion and more access to equitable and affordable healthcare for Black and rural communities. Learn more here.
This phrase, coined by civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, describes the frustration and exhaustion experienced by marginalized people due to persistent racial injustice, discrimination, and inequality.
More access. More affordability. More advocates.
- We need more access to equitable and affordable health care.
- We need more affordable health care options for everyday people.
- We need more advocates who are willing to protect and stand up for Black communities.
Black maternal mortality refers to the death of Black women during pregnancy, childbirth, or within a year after childbirth. Black women are at a significantly higher risk of maternal mortality than white women in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control, the maternal mortality rate for Black women is about three times higher than that for white women. Systemic racism, discrimination, and bias in healthcare contribute to the higher rates of Black maternal mortality.
