The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Infant Health has been nominated for Outstanding Short Form Documentary at the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards.
The nomination marks a milestone for the film, which centers on Black infant and maternal health and amplifies the voices of mothers and communities most affected by disparities in care. The nomination is dedicated to Dr. Janell Green-Smith, a midwife who delivered more than 200 babies and died while giving birth to her own child.
Narrated by Academy Award winner Viola Davis, The Ebony Canal is an award-winning documentary directed by Emmai Alaquiva. The film examines the connection between infant mortality disparities and the current state of maternal health affecting Black and Brown women.
The documentary includes insight from former Vice President Kamala Harris, actor Lamman Rucker, journalist Kimberly Seals Allers, author Charles Johnson, and medical experts. Through interviews and storytelling, the film traces experiences of loss, care, and recovery while pointing toward practices aimed at improving outcomes for mothers and infants.
According to the filmmakers, the mission of The Ebony Canal is to encourage solution-driven approaches to maternal health and to support efforts to save Black and Brown mothers and their babies.
