What inspires a director to get behind the lens and bring a story to the screen? Often, it’s a personal mission to shed light on something that hasn’t fully received its due. That was the drive for Emmai Alaquiva, director of The Ebony Canal, to follow four Black women during their birthing journeys and expose the stark disparities in Black maternal and infant health.
It was a smart hunch. The film just took home the 57th NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Form Documentary.
“This isn’t just a win for a film, it’s a win for Black mothers whose stories have too often gone unheard,” Alaquiva declared to EBONY over the win. “It reinforces that when we courageously tell the truth about maternal and infant health disparities, the world listens.”
A love letter that was born out of urgency to explore the hurt, healing, and hope around Black pregnancy, Alaquiva was “inspired by the disproportionate rates of Black infant mortality and maternal health disparities in this country and the painful reality that these stories often go untold or underreported,” he shared.
According to the CDC, Black women in the U.S. are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy‑related causes than white women. Over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, and Black mothers face higher rates of severe complications, driven by systemic bias and unequal access to quality care. “This story is important because it humanizes statistics,” he explained. “It restores dignity to data. And it centers Black mothers not as victims, but as vessels of resilience, power, and advocacy.”
The film’s length didn’t limit the telling of these women’s stories. “The beauty of short-form storytelling is precision. You must distill the truth to its essence. Every frame, word, breath must carry weight. There’s a cinematic and poetic discipline in that constraint,” Alaquiva revealed.
“Fitting that magnitude into a shorter time frame requires intentional storytelling that doesn’t sacrifice depth or humanity. But sometimes brevity sharpens impact and hits like a drumbeat: direct, undeniable, unforgettable. And if done well, it doesn’t end the conversation.”
For Alaquiva, the award represents validation not just of the film, but of the mothers: Larissa Lane, Mariah Peoples, Alana Yzola-Daly, Rachel L. Strader, and so many whose stories anchor The Ebony Canal. “We stand in gratitude, but more importantly, we stand committed to continuing the work. This win is dedicated to Zuri (An angel we lost in the film) and Dr. Janell Green-Smith.”
Deeply grateful to all who touched the project, from the internal team and medical experts to community partners, supporters and festival programmers who championed the film, he declared, “This recognition belongs to all of you.”
And then there’s Viola Davis — this year’s NAACP Image Award recipient for the Chairman’s Award — who narrates the project and “elevated this story with depth and global resonance.”
The commitment to care for Black mothers at all stages of pregnancy remains the film’s driving force. “It affirms that stories centered on Black maternal and infant health are essential,” Alaquiva said. “We’re serious about changing outcomes with organizations like 4kira4moms, birthFUND, Irth, and more. We must first be brave enough to confront the truth. This film is part of that confrontation and that healing.”
The 57th NAACP Image Awards air live on February 28 on CBS and BET.