May her memory live on! #𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 #𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 #𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦 #𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 #𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐝 #𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐈𝐧𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞

She knew childbirth could kill Black women.

So she became a midwife.

And childbirth still took her.

She knew the risks.

She knew the statistics.

She knew how often Black women are unheard, overlooked, and dismissed in childbirth.

That’s why Janell Green Smith became a midwife.

Not for a title. Not for applause.

But because she wanted to protect Black mothers — to stand in the gap where the system so often fails us.

Janeel died giving birth to her first child — the very thing she dedicated her life to making safer for others.

A woman who understood the dangers.

A woman who prepared for them.

A woman who still wasn’t spared.

This is not just a tragedy.

It’s an indictment.

Because knowledge didn’t save her.

Experience didn’t save her.

Love, intention, preparation — none of it saved her.

A baby was born.

A mother was lost.

A healer who poured her life into saving others never got to raise her own child.

Say her name.

Say it loud.

Because Black maternal mortality is not rare.

It is not accidental.

And it is still stealing brilliant, intentional, deeply loving women from this world.

Rest in power, Janell Green Smith

Your life mattered.

Your work mattered.

And your death must not be ignored.