Critical Dialogue: Maternal Health Disparities in the Black Community
NOTE: This is a two-part event
- Free virtual screening of AFTERSHOCK, which raises awareness of the disparities in maternal health in the black community. Register to receive the code to watch the free screening at https://nursing.wsu.edu/event/virtual-screening-aftershock/#registration
- Virtual panel discussion examining the disparities on a national, regional and local basis to identify strategies that nurses and healthcare providers can use to improve equity and reduce racism. RSVP to the event to receive the Zoom information for the panel discussion on Friday, February 17th.
About the event
WSU College of Nursing is hosting a two-part event — the first is the free virtual screening of AFTERSHOCK, which raises awareness of the disparities in maternal health in the black community. The second part of the event will be a virtual panel discussion examining the disparities on a national, regional and local basis to identify strategies that nurses and healthcare providers can use to improve equity and reduce racism.
Nursing faculty, staff, and students are invited to register for a virtual screening of the documentary, AFTERSHOCK.
Virtual panel discussion will be held on February 17th from 2:30pm to 4:00pm Pacific time, via Zoom.
The virtual panel discussion led by:
Stephaine Courtney – Special Guest & Co-Panelist
- Sign up to participate and watch the film before the panel discussion on February 17th.
Note: Free access to the documentary is limited to the first 400 participants. - All participants who watch the film and participate in the discussion panel may earn (3) Continuing Education (CE) credits.
- Virtual screening and discussion panel participation can apply toward DEI Continuing Education credit for the College of Nursing DEI Advocate Recognition Program. To apply: https://nursing.wsu.edu/diversity/.
AFTERSHOCK SYNOPSIS
In October 2019, 30-year-old Shamony Gibson tragically died after being ignored by medical providers 13 days following the birth of her son. Two months later, we began filming Shamony’s surviving mother, Shawnee Benton Gibson, and bereaved partner, Omari Maynard, as they began to process what happened and figure out their new normal.
In April 2020, 26-year-old Amber Rose Isaac, died due to an emergency c-section that stemmed from medical negligence. Within weeks of Amber’s death, Omari reaches out to Amber’s surviving partner Bruce McIntyre and a lifelong bond is formed. Together, Omari and Bruce begin the fight for justice for their partners with their families and community by their side, while caring for their children as newly single parents.
Through the film, we witness these two families become ardent activists in the maternal health space, seeking justice through legislation, medical accountability, community, and the power of art. Their work introduces us to a myriad of people including a growing brotherhood of surviving Black fathers, along with the work of midwives and physicians on the ground fighting for institutional reform. Through their collective journeys, we find ourselves on the front lines of the growing birth justice movement that is demanding systemic change within our medical system and government.
- Trailer: bit.ly/Aftershock-Trailer
- Run-time: 89 mins
- Directed and Produced by: Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee
- Featuring: Shawnee Benton Gibson, Bruce McIntyre, Omari Maynard