360 Incubator+ Fellows 2021

As Nina Simone described the intimate lives of four archetypal Black women in her hauntingly beautiful ballad Four Women, the documentary Listen to Me captures the pregnancy and postpartum journeys of four Black women in the 21st century. While each unique story can stand alone, when sewn together, they offer an uncharacteristically complicated and profound perspective on Black motherhood. It is through this lens that we begin to uncover the core issues and circumstances that place Black women at higher risk for complications from pregnancy and childbirth. While telling their stories, the film also lifts the voices of Black women scientists, historians, and politicians who explain how these inequities create the perfect storm for stress-induced illnesses for Black women living in the United States. Using art and science, this film attempts to bridge the profound chasm between Black women and the healthcare system.