This presentation shows that institutional racism plays a role in the higher mortality and morbidity rates of female minorities, specifically Black women, due to the policies created out of racism in the United States of America. The number of deaths occurring during and after labor has been increasing, along with the number of severe complications during labor. This research explores how the increased morbidity and mortality rates in maternal health are affected by the prominent racism within both the American society and health care system, which is caused by the policies created out of slavery. It explains why it is important that we, as healthcare workers, address the issue of racism in American society in order to help the lives of maternal Black women.