(gentle music) - [Narrator] In the late 1800s, when a Black woman went into labor, hospitals were not an option.

Under Jim Crow, most hospitals in Mississippi could legally refuse Black patients.

Out of necessity, families turned to granny midwives, skilled Black women who delivered babies when no one else would.

Well into the 20th century, these midwives delivered babies across Mississippi, often walking miles through fields and back roads to reach mothers in need.

Without these midwives, Mississippi's Black community as we know it might look very different.

In this episode of "The Color Line Diaries", we journey into the rural Mississippi Delta to explore how the legacy of Black maternal healthcare continues to shape the lives of Black women today.

Mississippi has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in America.

Just as they did during the era of the granny midwives, Black women today are filling the gaps left by the healthcare system.

- So we do childbirth education, we do breastfeed education.

Transportation is a big barrier in our area, so that makes our families have to travel at least a hour or two hours just to get to a provider.

But I will say that our families are not often heard a lot of times, and so when you're not heard and you're overlooked, then those rates of mortality end up being true, that Black women do die faster than white women.

We have the same care, so some would say, well, why is it?

They all have access to the nurses, they all have access to the doctor.

Where our equity piece come in at is because we all have the same care, but we're not making sure that the least vulnerable people are heard, and so when I don't make sure when I'm not heard, then I'm left to suffer.

'Cause now you have a family who may not survive through that.

And that's where we step in, we offer a lot of education to our families.

We make sure that our families are well equipped that when they go to their providers, they know what questions to ask.

- [Narrator] In the Mississippi Delta, the harsh reality is that not every mother makes it out alive.

Damien Sanders knows this firsthand.

His wife Tamara Stuckey was 35 weeks pregnant when she began experiencing severe pain and needed to be rushed to the hospital.

But with the nearest hospital miles away, the delay proved fatal.

By the time they arrived, it was too late.

Tamara and her newborn son Daxton were gone.

- When I first heard about her death, her being deceased, wasn't gonna be here with me and my kids anymore, it was... it was a terrible feeling, it was shocking.

I couldn't believe it.

I still can't believe it.

It was painful and... As I'm a single father, I try my best.

It's a hard job raising kids as a single parent.

I put my all into it.

Come on, say your prayer, get ready for bed now.

- (moans) - Come on.

Get ready to say your prayer, night night.

As a way to cope with this situation, we go to the grave site, visit, sit and talk a while.

I wanna make sure that my kids still have a bond and a connection, knowing that mom is here with us also.

We might not be able to see her, but she still remains in our heart.

I take care of the grave site, because that's my family.

They are out there.

Keep the grass cut, keep flowers in the grave.

I want people to know how painful it is to lose a wife and a baby.

My baby boy.

Our baby boy.

- [Narrator] For families like Damien's, the loss runs deep, but in the delta, there are those working to prevent more tragedies.

Christine is a local legend, a healthcare worker who carries on the legacy of Black midwives, bringing support to her community.

(gentle music) - My main important headline is just to make them feel comfortable, because I want them to tell me their needs.

(gentle music) Hi, girl.

- Hi.

- Come and give me a handshake.

Hey, girl.

How are you?

- I'm good.

- When I go to a home visit, the first thing that I do is try to make my participant feel relaxed.

I don't want them to stress out and think, because, honestly, because I wear a badge, I'm no better than them, so I bring in my personality.

I then provide them with the resources.

How are you handling having that miscarriage?

Just tell me, how are you handling it?

- The beginning, I was, I didn't handle it too good in the beginning.

- Did you go through a depression or anything- - Yes.

- Or anxiety or anything?

- I went through depression, and I still go through it, because I had to call him for help and told him that.

- When the nurses left out the room, did you feel like they abandoned you, or you think that they should, could have done more?

- Yeah, they could have been checking.

Checking everything, yeah.

- Using comforting words or something to make you feel relaxed and at ease.

- Yes, and I wasn't.

I was scared.

- So during the whole process, did anyone ever just take time to come in and just try to talk to you and to just tell you what was your issue and what was wrong, or they just wait until after the fact?

- They didn't tell me what was wrong.

- Do you think that this is why you would want a healthcare worker working with you?

- You been back and forth on me about my visits.

(laughs) I don't mean... - It's okay.

- On me about my papers and everything.

- Yeah, I am on you, because I want to make sure that you are having a healthy and safe pregnancy.

I want to make sure that you are doing everything that you're supposed to do.

So I, it's my job to like, motivate you- - Yes.

- And push you to continue, so I appreciate you saying that I am that motivation.

- You are.

(both laugh) - And I appreciate you for giving me the opportunity to be there to support you during your pregnancy.

- Thank you for being here.

- [Narrator] The maternal health crisis in Mississippi is far from over.

Too many mothers are still at risk, yet communities here hold on with grit and determination.

(uplifting music fades) (pensive music) (pensive music continues)