For Black Mothers and Their Children, An Ode to Black Joy

On this episode of Do No Harm, we discuss how the historic, systemic, and omnipresent misogynoir perpetuated by the US healthcare system and society at large leads to stark racial maternal and infant health inequities. We argue that Birth and Reproductive Justice cannot occur in medicalized and oppressive spaces and delve into how radical Black doulas are returning Black pregnancy and birthing to a site of community, healing, and love. Throughout this episode, we highlight what aspiring healthcare should be understanding and doing to create spaces and systems in which Black mothers and their children are seen, heard, and validated. Please visit the “podcast” page on our website (donoharmhrk.wordpress.com) to find a transcript for this episode. Check out the “resources” page for all of the studies, papers, and books we mentioned throughout this episode.