When the Bough Breaks

Investigating Stress and Racism in Birth Outcomes

Health care is a huge issue today, but our nation’s health is not just about health care. Despite America’s wealth, the health of it’s population is markedly lower than other leading industrial countries. Why is that? This acclaimed four-hour documentary series, Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?, produced by California Newsreel and broadcast by PBS, investigates the root causes of the United States’ alarming socio-economic and racial inequities in health. The Film Posse produced the 30-minute episode “When the Bough Breaks,” which explores research from health experts that looks into why the rate of infant mortality is nearly twice as high for African Americans as white Americans. The chronic stress of racism is linked as a possible culprit.

We traveled across the country including trips to the Center for Disease Control and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Children’s and Cook County hospitals in Chicago, and UCLA Medical Center to bring this story to the public.

Series Winner 2009 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Silver Baton

Air Date: 2008

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