HeLa, It's Me
The Rate of Preterm Birth Among Black Women Is ~50% Higher Than The Rate of Preterm Birth Among White Women.
HeLA It’s Me | 03/30
I’ve never been prone to prescriptive
advice, always avoiding the rules,
recommendations and quick
results-guaranteed remedies.
I can hardly tell you my medical
history - how mommy got to know
me two months early, my arrival
an emergency surgery. passed
down pain uterus membrane
remembering sisters enslaved
J. Marion Sims’ sins sold as science
experiments racist remnants
remain in healthcare today.
the midwives say there’s another
way doulas helped the third
daughter keep her food
down, so little when the
family saw her, some said
mommy tried to starve me
silly since my nickname is
snack- a ginger ale, A&D,
vics on feet and good sleep
the only remedy i’m willing
to accept. Henrietta Lacks
the warning- some worries
worse than apothecary cures
cancer can’t ask for consent
ravages the host’s descent,
no reparations for HeLAs
immortal descendants
Hopkins can’t be absolved
with hallelujahs, iodine
can’t clean medical injustice.
just trust us when we say
something isn’t right, the
pain is worse than yesterday
Today’s poem, “HeLa, It’s Me,” was birthed from Safia Elhillo’s “Medical History Generative Writing Workshop,” and is illustrated by Ashley January’s incubator baby from her HUMAN | MOTHER | BLACK series. In this autobiographical poem, I’m speaking for myself, but Ashley’s practice illuminates the painful realities of the Black maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in America through painting and multimedia. It affects us all, our loved ones and strangers alike, generations of our own. The titles are shocking, statistics that haven’t aged well, and Ashley honors the heart-wrenching stories and experiences of Black mothers, birthing people, and children who have suffered adverse birth outcomes, but challenge the institutional modes in finding solutions. I hope this poem answers her call to action for more awareness, research, and the eradication of unnecessary maternal and infant deaths.
Did you write a poem today? There’s so much to learn from Safia and other girls that never post. Share yours if you care to.
Send this to your mom,
ming joi
Love the line about iodine! This encapsulates my fear when I got pregnant. I made sure to get care with the only black midwife in my city when we found out I was pregnant. Even still, my labor story is awful and traumatic. I am so blessed to be here and have a beautiful baby boy.