A black New York City health official has caused a new race-related controversy after the way she referred to mothers of various skin tones.
At one point in a Twitter thread, Dr. Michelle Morse, the chief medical officer at the New York City Department of Health, referred to white mothers as “birthing people,” while reserving the term “mother” for black and Hispanic women, according to Fox News.
“Too many NYC families experience life-threatening complications from childbirth, and even loss of life of the birthing person or their child. We must hold ourselves and health care delivery organizations accountable to our anti-racism mission and make health equity a realty,” Morse wrote in a tread touting the city’s “birth equity” initiative to expand the “citywide doula program and midwifery.”
Too many NYC families experience life-threatening complications from childbirth, and even loss of life of the birthing person or their child. We must hold ourselves and health care delivery organizations accountable to our anti-racism mission and make health equity a realty.
— Dr. Michelle E. Morse (@NYCHealthCMO) March 23, 2022
“For too long, barriers stood between doulas and the families who would benefit most from their support,” she continued.
For too long, barriers stood between doulas and the families who would benefit most from their support.
— Dr. Michelle E. Morse (@NYCHealthCMO) March 23, 2022
“We need to support birthing people through all aspects of their birthing experience – perhaps the most beautiful and personal gift we can share with birthing people as they navigate the groundbreaking life changing experience of creating life. That is what doulas do,” Morse added before making her highly controversial distinction (as if the term “birthing people” for mothers — since biological men cannot have babies — isn’t ridiculous enough).
We need to support birthing people through all aspects of their birthing experience – perhaps the most beautiful and personal gift we can share with birthing people as they navigate the groundbreaking life changing experience of creating life. That is what doulas do.
— Dr. Michelle E. Morse (@NYCHealthCMO) March 23, 2022
“The urgency of this moment is clear. Mortality rates of birthing people are too high, and babies born to Black and Puerto Rican mothers in this city are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than babies born to non-Hispanic White birthing people,” she said.
The urgency of this moment is clear. Mortality rates of birthing people are too high, and babies born to Black and Puerto Rican mothers in this city are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than babies born to non-Hispanic White birthing people.
— Dr. Michelle E. Morse (@NYCHealthCMO) March 23, 2022
Fox News added:
Morse, who was hired in February last year as the first chief medical officer for the department, also serves as the department’s deputy commissioner for the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness, which places focus on ending racial inequities.
Several social media users responded to Morse, accusing the doctor of being divisive.
“White Mothers are called ‘birthing people’ and black and Puerto Rican Mothers are called Mothers?”GraniteGrok.com writer Kimberly Morin wrote. “Your license to practice medicine should be revoked.”
White Mothers are called ‘birthing people’ and black and Puerto Rican Mothers are called Mothers? Your license to practice medicine should be revoked.
— Kimberly Morin (@Conservativeind) March 24, 2022
“My mother Francesca who is white was delivered by a midwife who was white under a sink on Stillman Street in a cold water flat back in the 1920’s,” wrote former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa. “According to Dr Morse what would that make my grandmother? How ridiculous.”
My mother Francesca who is white was delivered by a midwife who was white under a sink on Stillman Street in a cold water flat back in the 1920’s. According to Dr Morse what would that make my grandmother? How ridiculous
— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) April 2, 2022
The NYC Dept. of Health apologized for Morse’s remark, saying it was an “oversight.” But the apology wasn’t what normal people would expect. Rather, an agency spokesperson said, “we apologize for inadvertently gendering Black and Puerto Rican birthing people.”
Not only is the American left replete with actual racists, they are clearly insane as well.
