• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Book An Appointment
  • Patient Resources
  • Shop The Market
  • Careers

The Midwives Of New Jersey

Serving Women, Honoring Birth

  • About Us
    • Our Midwives
      • Lisa Lederer, CNM
      • Rushea Dawes-Moore, CNM
      • Jacqueline Candido, CNM, WHNP
      • Sarah Colbath, CNM
      • Yenniffer Moreno, CM
      • Susanna Mathew, CNM
    • Midwife Assistants & Doulas
      • Donna Scales
      • Ashley Cuccaro
      • Malia Englehardt CD (DONA) 
      • Rebecca Stein, MPA, LCCE
      • Heather Jorgensen
      • Rebekah (Reba) Kadamus
    • Our Childbirth Educators
      • Britt Sando, CD (DONA), LCCE, IBCLC
      • Rebecca Stein, MPA, LCCE
      • Donna Scales
    • Our Nurses
      • Grace Rodgers, RN
      • Erin Elsaesser, RN
      • Marian Schlauch, RN
    • Our Management Team
      • Lisa Lederer, President
      • Christina Garlewicz, Director of Operations
    • Our Philosophy
    • Birth Statistics
    • Testimonials
    • Videos
    • Ask The Midwives (FAQ)
  • Services
    • Waterbirth
    • Hospital Birth
    • Homebirth
    • Birth Center
    • Labor Support
    • VBAC
    • Postpartum Support
    • Lactation Counseling
    • Well-Woman Care Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage Therapy for Women
  • Programs
    • Childbirth Class
    • Breastfeeding Class
    • BabyCare Class
    • MotherCare Class
    • Homebirth Class
    • Lactation Circle
    • Playgroup
  • Remedies
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Search
  • About Us
    • Our Midwives
      • Lisa Lederer, CNM
      • Rushea Dawes-Moore, CNM
      • Jacqueline Candido, CNM, WHNP
      • Sarah Colbath, CNM
      • Yenniffer Moreno, CM
      • Susanna Mathew, CNM
    • Midwife Assistants & Doulas
      • Donna Scales
      • Ashley Cuccaro
      • Malia Englehardt CD (DONA) 
      • Rebecca Stein, MPA, LCCE
      • Heather Jorgensen
      • Rebekah (Reba) Kadamus
    • Our Childbirth Educators
      • Britt Sando, CD (DONA), LCCE, IBCLC
      • Rebecca Stein, MPA, LCCE
      • Donna Scales
    • Our Nurses
      • Grace Rodgers, RN
      • Erin Elsaesser, RN
      • Marian Schlauch, RN
    • Our Management Team
      • Lisa Lederer, President
      • Christina Garlewicz, Director of Operations
    • Our Philosophy
    • Birth Statistics
    • Testimonials
    • Videos
    • Ask The Midwives (FAQ)
  • Services
    • Waterbirth
    • Hospital Birth
    • Homebirth
    • Birth Center
    • Labor Support
    • VBAC
    • Postpartum Support
    • Lactation Counseling
    • Well-Woman Care Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage Therapy for Women
  • Programs
    • Childbirth Class
    • Breastfeeding Class
    • BabyCare Class
    • MotherCare Class
    • Homebirth Class
    • Lactation Circle
    • Playgroup
  • Remedies
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Search
Home » Blog » Black History Month and the Importance of Black Midwives
February is National Black History Month. Holiday concept. Template for background, banner, card, poster with text inscription. Vector EPS10 illustration

Black History Month and the Importance of Black Midwives

February 12, 2021 //  by Midwives Of New Jersey//  Leave a Comment

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

February is Black History month. We, at the Midwives of New Jersey want to make space to recognize the importance of black history while also acknowledging that it merits celebrating every day, not just one month a year. Black history deserves immense respect and visibility as we move forward in working towards a brighter, more equitable future for black birthing people and their families.

Black Midwifery History

Black history is U.S. history, and black midwifery history is our midwifery history. Knowing the roots of our profession in this country is vital to our understanding of the important work we do with all populations, but especially for black families. Over four centuries ago, Midwives, “granny Midwives,” or “lay-Midwives” were traditional healers who were brought to the U.S. as enslaved Africans. These midwives arrived with the generational wisdom of health, healing, and community that they diligently and passionately utilized as they took exceptional care of both other enslaved people and the families of their white enslavers.

Although birth began to move into the hospitals in the late 1800’s with the education of white, male obstetricians, granny midwives continued to be instrumental to the health and care of folks in the poor and rural South into the 1950’s. (For a full documentary see: All my Babies) However, over this same span of time, local and state laws, under the guise of “safety” and “formal training,” began to eradicate these traditional, “lay-midwives.” This systematic erasure of black midwifery has had disastrous consequences for black communities that are glaringly evident today.

The Black Maternal & Infant Health Crisis

There is a black maternal and infant crisis in this country and in our state that can be directly traced to this historical censoring of black knowledge and wisdom, as well as the presence of systemic racism in our institutions and the perpetuation of oppression against black communities.

We know that midwives can play a huge role in decreasing these disparities, and that black midwives and care providers in particular can have a greater impact in achieving better outcomes for black families. In 2019, black midwives comprised only 6-7% of the midwifery profession in the U.S, and we will need many more to help combat this crisis.

Acknowledging and Celebrating

We want to acknowledge, celebrate, and uplift black midwives and birth workers doing this vital work now and shine a light on the incredible and invaluable influence they have on the health of birthing people and their babies in our country and our state. Among these modern-day healers are midwives and advocates who are working diligently to improve maternal and infant care for black birthing people all over the country like Jennie Joseph, Shafia Monroe, and the late Claudia Booker.

National and local organizations like the National Association to Advance Black Birth, The Black Midwives Alliance, and Ancient Song Doula Services are on the ground providing community support, increasing awareness for the midwifery profession, organizing scholarships for black student midwives, and advocating for policies that will positively impact black and indigenous communities as a whole.

As care providers, we have directly benefited from the wealth of cultural wisdom of the historical black midwives and from those we are honored to work alongside today. The contributions to the field of midwifery are immense and deserve year-round recognition and amplification. We hope that you will join us in celebrating these voices past and present and contribute to a better future for black birthing families by spreading awareness, fighting racial inequities, and supporting black midwives, students and the advancement of midwifery education.

More resources can be found and monetary contributions can be made to any of the above individuals/organizations, and here, here, or here.

Happy Black History Month.

In love and solidarity,

The Midwives of New Jersey.

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: News & Events

Related Posts

  • Listen To The Midwives Radio Commercials!
  • The Midwives of New Jersey Are Hiring!
  • Midwives of New Jersey header
    The Midwives Of New Jersey Won An Award!
  • Access to Midwives
  • Homebirth Waterbirth Baby
    Midwives of New Jersey, Waterbirth
  • thermography services in nj
    October Breast Awareness Month ~ Thermography Special!!
Previous Post: «pregnant-woman-laboring-on-birth-ball Tips for Protecting Your Perineum
Next Post: Spotlight on Midwifery: Webinar Series spotlight-on-midwifery-webinar-series»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Mount Olive

125 U.S. 46 Suite 3
Budd Lake 07828
Phone: (908) 509-1801

More About Our Mount Olive Location

Madison

250 A Main St
Madison 07940
Phone: 973-264-4307

(located in Hollenbach Family Chiropractic)
More About Our Madison Location

Hoboken

51 Newark Street Suite 205
Hoboken 07030
Phone: (201) 499-7119

More About Our Hoboken Location

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Locations
  • Contact

Copyright © 2010–2022 The Midwives Of New Jersey · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Heritage Marketing Group

Close Popup

Midwives of New Jersey Practice Orientation with Expectant Parents

Midwives of New Jersey Orientation

Join the Midwives of New Jersey for an informative time of conversation, Q&A, and a tour of our office.

Learn More