Reinforcing “Normative Empathy” as a Maternal Health Resource in the Black Community

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Normative empathy is a sociological concept Dr. McDonald devised over ten years ago to capture the conjunction of empathy among Black women who suffer similar social disadvantages with African American norms of solidarity, responsibility, and accountability. Now as part of her overarching concern for Black female solidarity in the 21st century, she wishes to determine whether Black women and their academic and medical supporters can be persuaded to reach deeply into this past to save Black lives. Most importantly, she also wishes to determine whether reinvigorating this maternal resource can help to fortify Black women against the continuing tide of racism in all of its forms.

 

Katrina McDonald