Serena Williams Says the Medical System Is Shortchanging Black Women

Kat Armstrong
Mar 08, 2018

With her return to the tennis court this week, Serena Williams is using her moment in the spotlight to highlight what she sees as a major deficiency with how women are treated by medical professionals, saying, “It’s time to get feisty and stand up.”

In a sit-down interview with BBC, Williams recounted the harrowing moments after her daughter, Alexis Ohanian Jr., was born and she felt that something was wrong with her body. At the time, she kept telling nurses she was concerned because she was having trouble breathing — a sign that she may have been forming blood clots in her lungs due to the fact that she had to stop taking her life-saving anti-coagulation medication in order to have her emergency c-section.

“Doctors aren’t listening to us, just to be quite frank,” Williams said, adding, “it may be time for women to be comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations.”

Williams admits that she was lucky in her case since she knows her body so well, but many women, especially Black women, don’t know or aren’t believed. And that inability to understand what’s happening, or fear of speaking out, can cause women to have negative medical outcomes.

“Unfortunately a lot of African Americans and Black people don’t have the same experience that I’ve had,” says Williams. “Also there are some things we [Black women] are genetically pre-disposed to that some people aren’t. So knowing that going in, or some doctors not caring as much for us, is heartbreaking.”

Williams suggests that it’s important for women to take the time to better understand their bodies and not be afraid of speaking up, and that in 2018 we need to start having difficult conversations around women’s rights and care in order to see change.

“You have to stand up and, I heard someone say, have conversations that aren’t comfortable. Be comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations like we deserve to be paid what a guy does; we deserve to be treated fairly, the same way.”

Have you ever had a difficult conversation with a doctor about your own health? Tell us on Twitter.

(Photo via Elsa/Getty)

OMG, Netflix Just Confirmed The ‘You’ Season 5 Release Date (With New Video)

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is back for another season of snooping and stalking in New York City, and thanks to the new You season 5 teaser, we know exactly when this new TV show is returning. In addition to showing us characters from the past like Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail), Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), and Marienne Bellamy (Tati Gabrielle), Joe straight-up says goodbye to the one person who's always been there: you. Yep, Netflix went there.

“Every season they manage to find new space to make it interesting and relevant,” Penn Badgley told Tudum. “And this season, I think somehow coming back to where it started allowed for it to just become grounded in the way that it needs to also have this kind of spectacular finish.”

Here's a breakdown of that brand new You season 5 teaser.

"Hello, you. Do you remember me? Cause I remember you," Joe asks in the You season 5 teaser, over shots of New York City and Mooney's Books. "Here we are together again, back to where it began."

"A lot has happened these many years together," he continues. "Identities, cities, loves, complications." The trailer is a walk down memory lane for viewers and for Joe as he remembers Beck, Love, and Marienne — and locking them up. Plus some fights and escapes he made along the way.

"All that led me here to now, to where I as always meant to be," he says. "And the one constant, the one thing that has always been there for me, is you. You who have been there the whole time and will be there with me to the end. Goodbye, you."

Okay, this is totally giving me Black Mirror, metaverse vibes, especially since Joe's in his creepy underground bunker with all that blue lighting. I have chills down my spine just watching this!

Is season 5 of You coming out?

Yes, You season 5 is dropping on Netflix April 24, 2025.

We've been waiting for new episodes since season 4 premiered in 2023, but the writers and stars have been planning Joe's ending for much longer. "We have some ideas that we've been talking about pretty much from the beginning," Sera Gamble told EW when she was showrunner in 2023. "It's really the debate about what kind of justice would be fair and appropriate for a guy like Joe. And then do we believe that he would get that kind of punishment? My short answer is like, maybe not from the American system. But there might be other ways. So that's the stuff we're talking about."

But whatever these writers and directors have up their sleeves, Penn Badgley promises You season 5 will come to a "perfect" conclusion. “I would love for people to just be like, ‘Wow, it’s over and I feel good and I don’t want to watch it again,'" he told Harper's Bazaarin March of 2023. And honestly, a perfect ending is all TV fans can hope for these days, right?

Who's in the You season 5 cast?

The final season of You stars Penn Badgley, Madeline Brewer, Anna Camp, Charlotte Richie, and Griffin Matthews.

Are you excited for the final season of You? I cannot wait to see the way Penn Badgley and Netflix bring the show to a close. Follow us on Facebook for the latest You season 5 news — and updates on all your favorite TV shows!

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5 "Overrated" Fashion Finds I Regret Buying (I'm Looking At You, Barrel Jeans)

2024 was a year of lessons — I added so many "overrated" fashion finds to my cart...that definitely should have never left it. As intentional as I was, I made a few shopping mistakes that I'm willing to live with. But, no one said I couldn't talk about my lack of judgement with all the overrated fashion finds that I wouldn't buy again. Listen! I just wanna warn you so you don't end up like me! So, if you're thinking about taking some risks on recent trends, here's what I bought and hated last year. (You'll thank me later)

P.S. Just because I didn't love them doesn't mean they're bad buys for other people. They just didn't work for me!

Scroll to see the 5 overrated fashion finds I should've never bought...

Darina Belonogova

1. The Pleated Skirt

Big sigh... I'm 5'2" with a short torso, long legs, and a curvier backside, so shopping can be tricky. But I somehow thought buying a mini pleated skirt was a great idea. Similar to one of the other fashion trends I'm not a fan of, my skirt gave me 50 shades of 'never again' when I attempted to wear it.

From the wind having a field day with it to feeling my butt on my car's seat every time I sat down, I quickly understood that this was a waste of money for me.

Abercrombie & Fitch

2. The Barrel Jean

Barrel jeans are another buy I wanted to love, but didn't because of how it fit on my body. I don't know if I should try something that's tailored for petite women, but I'm still scarred from being excited to try them on...only to face disappointment.

I looked like I'd purposely blown air in my jeans to achieve this trend which made me feel silly. However, I've seen content creators like Karen Goodbrand wearing them and they look amazing! However, I'm willing to table them for now and stick to my straight or traditional wide leg jeans.

Ozan Çulha

3. Corset Belt

Let's have a long moment of silence for my lack of judgement with this purchase. I don't know what the goal was when I purchased a corset belt, but it swallowed my tiny torso.

I'm not even kidding. I looked like I stuffed myself into it which made me promptly return it for a refund. Sometimes I've been known to do an exchange for store credit, but I wanted this to go back to the sender so I'd never have to think about it again.

Jasmine Williams

4. Colorful Tights

Before you question my sanity, I want to explain why this made my "overrated" list. I purchased a pair of burgundy tights at the last minute and wore them on Christmas Eve. They got a lot of positive attention, but I was so itchy in them lol. Also, they reminded me of a time when it was mandatory to wear them with dresses to church.

I literally couldn't wait to pull them off when I got home and haven't seen them since December 24, 2024.

Jasmine Williams

5. The Faux Crocodile Print Vinyl Coat

I actually loved this coat, but what makes it overrated is how much noise it made whenever I wore it. It sounded like rubbing two water hoses together, meaning it was insufferable. It could be a personal thing, but I couldn't get past that sound no matter how cool I thought it made my outfits look.

The worst part about it is I spent more than I should've for it and haven't seen it since last summer, so all the rubber sounds were for nothing.

Looking for more fashion inspo? Be sure to follow us on Pinterest!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Netflix's New #1 Drama Is Perfect For '1923' Fans

If you're waiting for 1923 season 2, I've got good news for you. You don't have to spend the next month rewatching season 1 because Netflix just dropped a brand new TV show that is giving MAJOR Yellowstone universe vibes. Set in 1857, American Primeval is all about family and survival, which sounds a lot like the Duttons if you ask me. Lock in, friends, because you'll probably binge it in one sitting.

Here's everything you need to know about American Primeval, streaming on Netflix now.

Where can I watch American Primeval?

All six episodes of American Primeval are available to watch on Netflix now. The episodes range from 36 minutes to just over an hour. That means it's the perfect TV show to binge watch this weekend!

What is American Primeval about?

In 1857 Utah, cultures clash when Indigenous peoples, settlers, and the Mormon militia begin a fight for the land. Sara (Betty Gilpin) and Devin (Preston Mota) are searching for Devin's father when they meet Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a Native American who escaped abuse. When their group is attacked, the trio is taken under the wing of Isaac (Taylor Kitsch).

And fans are loving it! One X user tweeted that it's "one of the best series Netflix has made," while another calls it a "masterpiece."

Who's in the cast?

American Primeval stars Taylor Kitsch as Isaac Reed, Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell, Dane DeHaan as Jacob Pratt, Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Abish Pratt, Derek Hinkey as Red Feather, Joe Tippett as James Wolsey, Jai Courtney as Virgil Cutter, Preston Mota as Devin Rowell, Shawnee Pourier as Two Moons, and Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger.

Is American Primeval based on fact?

Matt Kennedy/Netflix

American Primeval is a fictionalized version of history, so while it features real events like the Utah War and the Mountain Meadows Massacre (in which the Mormon militia murdered a wagon train of travelers on their way to California), the details and main characters were created for the series.

But one real detail about the TV show? Taylor Kitsch learned the Shoshone language from elders at the Wind River Reservation for his role as Isaac. "One of my dialect coaches, she's in her late 70s and the last thing she wants to do is get this language written down," he told Q's Tom Power. "I'm so lucky to do this kind of stuff."

"To give yourself to a project worth telling….You're servicing something bigger than you," he continues. "There's a legacy. There's something there that humbles you quite quickly and I love that challenge."

Will there be a season 2 for American Primeval?

American Primeval was originally released as a limited series. But given the success of the show, I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up getting a new season! Stay tuned for updates on American Primeval season 2.

What did you think about American Primeval? Tell us on Instagram and check out the other January TV shows coming this month for more Weekend Watch ideas.

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