Why did Janell Green Smith die after childbirth?

Janell Green Smith died from childbirth complications, a tragedy highlighting the ongoing maternal mortality crisis affecting Black women in the US.

What is the Black maternal mortality rate in the US?

As of 2023 data, Black women in America experience maternal mortality at 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, more than three times the rate of white women.

How does bias affect Black maternal health?

Systemic bias leads to dismissal of pain and concerns, resulting in lower quality care and higher rates of severe complications and preventable deaths for Black women.

Home / Health / Black Midwife Dies in Childbirth Crisis

Black Midwife Dies in Childbirth Crisis

7 Jan

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Summary

Black women face maternal mortality rates over three times higher than white women.
Even maternal health experts, like Janell Green Smith, are not immune to the crisis.
Systemic bias and dismissal of pain contribute significantly to preventable deaths.

As of January 2026, the Black maternal mortality crisis in the United States is worsening, with Black women experiencing pregnancy-related deaths at over three times the rate of white women. This stark reality was tragically underscored by the death of Janell Green Smith, a certified nurse-midwife and maternal health expert, shortly after delivering her own child. Her passing highlights a profound failure in the healthcare system, where even those with deep knowledge of maternal health are not adequately protected.

The article details how factors such as race, profession, and socioeconomic status do not shield Black women from disproportionately higher risks. Instances like those of Karrie Jones and Mercedes Wells, captured in viral videos in late 2025, illustrate how Black women's pain and concerns are often dismissed by healthcare providers. These events have brought widespread attention to the critical issue of bias within the healthcare system.