Book Report – Mama Might be Better off Dead
Laurie Kaye Abraham’s “Mama Might Be Better Off Dead” explores social issues in America while narrating the heart-wrenching experiences of the Banes family, particularly concerning inadequate medical care and their impoverished lives.
Setting, Characters and the Health Challenges they Faced
The story takes place in North Lawndale, an impoverished suburb of Chicago, which serves as a poignant example of the effects of neglect on a community (Abraham 15). The central characters comprise Jackie Banes (mother of the household), Robert Banes (Jackie’s husband), Tommy Markham (Jackie’s father), Cora Jackson (Jackie’s elderly grandmother) and Latrice, DeMarest, and Brianna (Jackie’s children). Firstly, as a wife, daughter, and head of the family, Jackie Banes finds it impossible to adequately care for her family while navigating the medical complex systems. Second, dialysis is a necessity for Robert, who is suffering from kidney disease, but could not get reliable medical care until his kidneys failed (Abraham 3). Furthermore, Jackie’s husband is attempting to manage his health issues while balancing the family’s needs. On the other hand, Jackie’s father suffered a major stroke because his condition (high blood pressure) was left untreated (Abraham 3). Additionally, Mrs Jackson, who lives with diabetes, is also affected in that she has had her leg amputated due to the delayed treatments and poor medical care (Abraham 22). Lastly, Jackie’s children are faced with health challenges, which are ultimately worsened by the poor living conditions and poor access to preventive care
The Banes family illustrates how four generations of African Americans have lived in poverty. They are caught up in a web of complex healthcare failures, chronic illness, and economic difficulties. This family’s narrative reveals the emotional burden of caregiving, along with the disparate access to quality medical care. As seen in the book, Jackie carries the full burden of caregiver work on top of her chronic health issues to try to make ends meet (Abraham 123). All these problems tend to be more closely intertwined. Important aspects of the problem, such as poverty, violent structure, and lack of many notable resources, are further behind the solution to these issues.
The Impact of these Challenges
The family is constantly seeking solutions to the problems that affect every aspect of their lives. They live in persistent poverty while being in a healthcare emergency in most cases, receiving little to no adequate emotional support, which then causes this unhealthy loop. Jackie’s father’s stroke, for instance, highlights the negative effects of untreated hypertension, a condition that may have been controlled with early treatment (Abraham 3). Overall, this narrative sheds light on systemic inequities– the absence of insurance or primary care clinics, in combination with poverty, leaves entire populations in a state of deprivation.
Work Cited
Abraham, Laurie. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead: The Failure of Health Care in Urban America. The University of Chicago Press, 2019.
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Question 
This is a book report from the book ” Mama Might Be Better Off Dead” please answer these critical thinking questions from the book.
Mama Might Be Better Off Dead:
Book Report – Mama Might be Better off Dead
Critical Thinking Questions 1
1. What is the setting of “Mama”? Who are the main “characters”? Describe each one in detail. Describe the family overall.
2. What are the health challenges faced by the various “characters”?
3. How do these challenges seem to impact their health thus far?