The Bowie family, as well as the track and field world was rocked by the untimely passing of Olympic Gold Medalists Tori Bowie due to complications from child birth.
Howard men’s basketball coach Kenny Blakeney issued at statement on Bowie’s tragic death, saying in part ,” I challenge my male colleagues to stand alongside in black women in amplifying this issue in hopes of creating positve change moving forward.
The issue of black child birth mortality has been one that he and the Howard basketball team took up this season, with the team hosting a event back in January in conjunction with Mamatoto Village that zeroed in on combating anti-blackk racism and health disparities for black moms.
Women’s health issues aren’t just women’s health issues,” Howard basketball coach Kenney Blakeney told CNN in January. “Everyone is affected by this, not only the women but also men.”
According to the CDC, black women are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications and also must deal with anti-black racism from healthcare providers at higher rates.
