Black Women’s Health in Focus: A New Film Sheds Light on Medical Neglect

Black Girl Vitamins, a Chicago wellness brand that began five years ago, has grown fast by addressing health problems common among Black women. They have targeted issues like anemia and vitamin D deficiency, giving people who had long felt ignored a sense of recognition. The company has supported student athletes at HBCUs and helped Black women who study medicine pay for their education. Now the brand has moved into filmmaking. It released a short movie called “The Visit” during Black Maternal Mental Health Week. The film shows how many Black women have their symptoms dismissed by doctors. It tells the stories of four women at different life stages—some mothers, some menopausal—and how that repeated dismissal leads to poorer health outcomes and even higher risk of maternal death.

The creator says the film’s goal is to make Black women feel seen, heard and cared for. It also aims to spark honest conversations about medical bias, Black maternal health and the need for doctors to truly listen. The film is just over three minutes long but it connects individual experiences with broader health inequities. Black Girl Vitamins plans to spread the film’s message by partnering with Mamatoto Village, a Washington, D. C. group that works on Black maternal health. Together they hope to raise awareness, involve stakeholders and push for more equity in care. “The Visit” is the first of several projects that will focus on Black women’s voices. The company wants to create more dialogue and ensure every Black woman receives the quality care she deserves.

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