03/15/2026
Before hospitals dominated birth, there were the Granny Midwives.
Black women in the American South who carried generations of birth knowledge, cared for entire communities, and safely delivered thousands of babies long before obstetrics became what it is today.
They were teachers, healers, advocates, and protectors of mothers and babies.
Yet many of these women were pushed out of their work through racism, regulation, and the rise of hospital birth; even as modern obstetrics adopted many of the practices they had been using for generations.
Today on National Black Midwives Day, I honor the women who laid the foundation for midwifery and maternal care in this country.
Their wisdom, resilience, and commitment to community care shaped the way birth is understood and supported today.
As a Black midwife, I am deeply honored that I’m walking a path they helped clear.
We stand on their shoulders. 🤎