Tatyana Ali, renowned for her role as Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is now a prominent voice in the movement to improve maternal health outcomes for Black and Indigenous mothers. Her advocacy stems from a deeply personal experience of obstetric violence during the birth of her first son, Aszi, in 2016.
As she prepares to compete on the new season of Dancing with the Stars Ali continues to use her platform to raise awareness about the systemic racism and inequity in maternity care. Her journey highlights the urgent need for change in a healthcare system that disproportionately affects women of color.
Tatyana Ali’s Personal Experience with Obstetric Violence
Ali’s pregnancy with Aszi was filled with joy and anticipation. She recalled singing her mother’s song, ‘cuando, cuando, cuando,’ as she eagerly awaited his arrival. However, the delivery took a terrifying turn. Ali described being physically restrained and subjected to aggressive behavior by medical staff.
‘It went from a small group of people in the room to many people in the room screaming, yelling at me,’ Ali recounted. ‘I was held down by about four people.’ The chaos and panic led to a high-risk emergency procedure, the Zavanelli maneuver, which is rarely used. Ali’s son was pushed back inside her, causing her to convulse before an emergency C-section was performed.
Aszi spent several days in the neonatal intensive care unit, and Ali later realized she had experienced obstetric violence. She came to understand that her ordeal was not an isolated incident but part of a larger systemic issue affecting Black and Indigenous women.
The State of Black Maternal Health in the United States
The United States has one of the highest rates of maternal deaths in the developed world, with Black mothers being more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. In 2024, 649 women in the U.S. died of maternal causes, according to federal data.
Dr. Tamika Auguste, chair of women’s and infants’ services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center emphasizes the need for acknowledging and addressing bias in medical care. ‘The poor rates in outcomes of Black maternity patients is something that rocked us to our core,’ she said. Auguste highlights the importance of collaborative care involving physicians, midwives, doulas, and nurses working together as a team.
However, access to maternity care remains a significant barrier. Over 500 hospitals closed maternity wards between 2010 and 2022, and more than half of U.S. counties lack hospital-based labor and delivery services. These maternity care deserts disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous women, who are also more likely to be uninsured.
Tatyana Ali’s Advocacy and Baby Yams
Through her healing journey, Ali has found support and beautiful relationships within the Black and Indigenous maternal health community. She travels the country speaking at conferences, sharing her story, and advocating for solutions. Ali founded Baby Yams a business that funds grants for Black and Indigenous birth workers and students through the sale of heritage baby quilts.
Each quilt represents protection and strength, serving as a ‘storytelling machine of the possibility, the hope,’ according to Ali. Proceeds from Baby Yams support the Birth Future Foundation which provides grants to midwives, doulas, and student birth workers. Ali’s financial support has helped birth workers like Nadia Gramby, a midwife in Alabama, advance their careers and serve families in under-resourced communities.
Black midwives and doulas have a rich history in African American life, providing culturally competent care and empowering families. Research shows that midwife births lead to lower rates of complications, making them a critical part of the solution to expanding access to maternity care. Ali’s advocacy underscores the importance of acknowledging and addressing the systemic issues that disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous women.
