Courtesy of TodaysHipHop.com
The Black Lives Matter movement has rightfully been at the forefront of society’s focus, as the police have continued to take Black lives at a disproportionate rate. Off the radar for many though, is an equally important and horrific disparity. Black women are eight times more likely to die during childbirth. Much like on the street, their voices are far too often ignored and not treated with proper urgency and care. This was the case for Sha-Asia Washington, a Brooklyn woman taken too soon while giving birth. For many, this sparked renewed outcry. For KOTA the Friend, who resides just a mile away from where Sha-Asia died at BK’s Wodhull Hospital, in Clinton Hill, this literally hit home.
Warning: Explicit lyrics
If you want to know how genuine someone’s intentions are regarding the plight of our people, check back on their actions when the media hype for Black Lives dies down. For KOTA, a switch up was never in question. Look no further than his lyrics on the Juneteenth installment of Lyrics to GO entitled ‘Kalief’. Sandwiched between bars about black financial empowerment and police brutality, he cautions us to “Only fuck with doulas cus fuck you these babies matter.” On 2019’s ‘For Colored Boys’ he issues a similar warning, stating “Do not have your kids in a hospital they don’t give a fuck, ‘specially bout black folk.” As evidenced by the untimely death of Ms Washington, these lines are hauntingly relevant.
It’s because of its a teaching hospital. They always have doctors there working on Visa’s instead of doctors with experience and who understand and can speak clear English.
They speak to the Blackness but they colored it boys, the truth will set you free that enough for me.
Remember the last poets now they’re here, there is nothing last but fear. “A false allusion appearing real”, face your fears and don’t be shay, you can’t avoid that we all will someday die. Not your spirit, just the suitcase.
I don’t understand why this is still happening. Its 2020 for Gods sake I thought medicine has advance how do we still have women dying in child’s birth. They have declared war on the black community. men, women and children. There must be a better way. My heart goes out to her family. This hurts so much and I didn’t even know her.
You are worrying about lives coming in, What about the black males who are killing each other who are right here , right now? Why are we setting kids up to be born, just to welcome them to a death sentence prematurely before they can reach 18 years of age? Where’s the logic? God knows what he is doing. Legislators have got to amend the stupid laws of Bail Reform and HR 719. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a beautiful thing bringing a child in the world, but under what conditions? I know the pregnant mother have to have mix feelings, thinking about the joy of a family and worrying about the What if…my son dies before her? That’s enough stress to cause still born, miscarriage, underweight and even death to the mother. When is the BLACK LIVES MATTER committee really going to matter by WAKING UP and get down to taking care of real life issues during the pre-natal stage. Thank you