Black Maternal Health with Senator London Lamar

Sponsor: NavPress

Episode Description: 

Listener Advisory: This episode includes discussions of maternal mortality, infant mortality, birth trauma, and disparities affecting Black women and families. Some listeners may find these topics distressing. Please take care while listening, and know that the God who sees and hears, sees and hears you!

In light of Black Maternal Health Week, Christina and Ekemini sit down with Senator London Lamar from Tennessee for this powerful and urgent conversation. In this episode, Senator Lamar unpacks the ongoing crisis of Black maternal health in the United States and how she has personally been impacted. Together, they explore the alarming disparities in maternal mortality rates, the systemic inequities embedded within healthcare systems, and the lived realities of Black mothers navigating pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Senator Lamar shares insights from her advocacy and legislative work, shedding light on policy efforts to improve outcomes for Black women. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us! 

Learn more about Senator London Lamar: 

Senator London P. Lamar is a Memphis-based legislator and strategist who represents Tennessee’s 33rd Senate District, which includes parts of Memphis and Shelby County. She is the youngest woman and the youngest African-American to serve in the Tennessee State Senate. She serves as Chair of the Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus, where she helps manage caucus messaging, coordinates priorities, and elevates an agenda grounded in community needs. In the Senate, Lamar serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Joint Ways and Means Committee—positions that place her at the center of policy, public safety, and budget decisions impacting families statewide. Before joining the Senate, Lamar served four years in the Tennessee House of Representatives (District 91).

In 2022, she was appointed by the Shelby County Commission to fill the District 33 vacancy and later won election to continue serving her community. Her public service is defined by a consistent focus: strong schools, healthy families, and safe communities. Senator Lamar is widely recognized for her leadership on maternal health equity and policies that reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality. In 2024, legislation associated with her maternal health work advanced reforms connected to the state’s maternal mortality review and prevention efforts. She has also elevated community-based, evidence-informed solutions that strengthen outcomes for mothers and babies across Tennessee. She earned her B.A. from Saint Mary’s College and remains committed to developing the next generation of civic leaders through advocacy, community partnership, and public service.

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