On a sweltering Saturday in July about three dozen people, primarily women, gathered at the Upper Albany branch of the Hartford Public Library to discuss motherhood, mortality, and art. 

We were invited by Dr. Lucinda Canty, a nurse-midwife and educator who blends her medical expertise and love of art to help people recover from and overcome health disparities that lead to higher maternal and infant mortality rates among black communities.

“My research looks at black women who had severe complications,” explained Dr. Canty, who is also an associate professor and Director of Seedworks Health Equity in Nursing Program at UMASS-Amherst’s Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. “Just being black, you’re the risk factor,” she said of how medical professionals often treat black patients, particularly women. “It doesn’t matter what’s happening around you, it’s your fault, you’re to blame.” 

Women at the library spoke of doctors dismissing their pleas and downplayed their pain. Some women lost their babies; some almost lost their lives. 

The realities facing black mothers became most stark as Dr. Canty interviewed women about their losses for her dissertation. All of the women had experienced loss, mostly miscarriages, and many of which could have been prevented had doctors heard their pleas.

As she got to know the women, Dr. Canty shared with them paintings she’d been too shy to share with anything else. “They were like, ‘You’re telling my story!’, ‘That’s me in that picture!”’ 

Dr. Canty saw the power of the paint, and the need for more support. “These women hurt so much,” she said. “They’re nervous and they want that support outside of their medical center.”

To create that space, Dr. Canty founded Lucinda’s House, a non-profit that helps women overcome, and prevent, medical trauma through education, advocacy, community baby showers, and, yes, art: most of the women gathered at the library that day were showing pieces as part of Lucinda House’s Maternal Health Art Showcase. One piece depicted a pregnant silhouette wearing a tattered American flag, another depicted a mother breastfeeding. “People need to get used to seeing that,” the artist said. “Black moms got to feed their kids, too.”

To medical pros reading this, whether doctor, nurse, EMT, or whoever, you have the power to improve care for black women and their children. “If we come in and you make us feel that everything about us is wrong, you’re adding a layer of stress that we don’t need,” Dr. Canty said. Listen to patients. Exercise empathy. 

“If someone calls and they’re not feeling well, can you take 15 minutes to take a look at them? Can you squeeze them into your schedule?”

And to everyone, Dr. Canty makes clear that we all have an artist inside: “Everybody is an artist. What you put on paper or canvas on anything, it’s up to interpretation – as long as you’re able to express yourself.” 

Who knows – your expression could very well help someone else find their voice.