Our Favorite Racial Justice-Centered Resources for Families and Birth Workers
As an organization that is focused on, and dedicated to, anti-oppression work, we are committed to uplifting, supporting, and sharing about other people, organizations, and resources that are working toward birthing justice and racial justice. We have collected some of our favorites in this resource guide.
*While we have collected a range of birthing justice and racial justice resources here, it is not even close to a complete list, as there are SO many people doing this work at both grassroots and large scales, and new offerings are always emerging. We will edit and add to this guide periodically. If you have an offering you’d like to contribute to this guide, please reach out to us!
Birth Workers for Racial Justice
Chanel Portia (she/her) Chanel is a birth & Reproductive Justice activist. She is also the founder of Ancient Song and co-creator of JustBirth Space. Chanel offers consulting services focused on birth and reproductive justice.
Eri Guajardo Johnson: (she/they) Eri is an educator and doula who offers decolonial approaches to healing & reproductive care, workshops, events, book clubs, and a podcast.
Iya Mystique (they/she) Iya specializes in Caribbean-Indigenous perinatal/maternal care and wellness practices for Black/IPOC, QTBIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other communities. They teach plant medicine for birth professionals!
Jabina Coleman (she/her) Jabina is a therapist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), mother, and speaker. She is also the co-founder of BAE hood and Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for POC.
king yaa: (they/them/king) king is a queer+trans reproductive justice advocate, educator & consultant. Check out their offerings for birth workers and birthing people.
Pulxaneeks (she/her): Pulxaneeks is group facilitator, program designer & event producer. She offers Indigenous Relations Consulting.
Raeanne Madison (she/her) Reanne is an Indigenous mother, birth worker, and community educator. Birthing people and birth workers may enjoy her Postpartum Healing Lodge course.
Rise Osby (they/them): Rise is a doula, consultant, breath and body worker, and performer. They offer training and consulting for doulas and organizations focused on Disability Justice & Access, Healthcare and the Medical Industrial Complex, Queer, Trans and GNC issues, and Birthwork.
Sabia Wade: (she/they) Sabia is BADT’s founder and CEO is an equity consultant, financial activist, full-spectrum doula, and author. They’ve previously offered Racism & Privilege in Birth Work through BADT. Stay on the lookout for her new offerings!
Dr. Stephanie Mitchell: (she/her) Stephanie is a 2x board certified midwife, author, teacher, and founder of The Birth Sanctuary. Find her Sunday Cervix chats on IG.
Books
The Big Letdown: The True Story of How Politics, Feminism, and Big Business Changed Breastfeeding by Kimberly Seals Allers
Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy and Childbirth edited by Julia Chinyere Oparah and Alicia D. Bonaparte
Indigienous Experiences of Pregnancy and Birth by Hannah Tait Neufeld and Jaime Cidro
Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts
Oppression and the Body: Roots, Resistance, and Resolutions edited by Christine Caldwell and Lucia Bennett Leighton
Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington
Revolutionary Mothering: Love on the Front Lines edited by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, China Martens, and Mai’a Williams
Birth Justice Organizations
List of birth justice organizations by state via Evidence Based Birth
AncientSong is a national birth justice organization working to eliminate maternal and infant mortality and morbidity among Black and Latinx people. “We provide doula training and services, offer community education, and advocate for policy change to support reproductive and birth justice.”
Indigenous Women Rising is committed to honoring Native & Indigenous People’s inherent right to equitable and culturally safe health options through accessible health education, resources and advocacy.
SisterSong is a Southern based, national membership organization, whose purpose”is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities.”
Village Birth International fosters humane birth practices and increases access to maternal and infant health through collaborative and equitable international partnerships and trainings.
Other Resources
Birth Stories in Color: Birth Stories in Color (BSiC) is a podcast for Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latino and Multiracial individuals to share their birthing experiences - a space that specifically celebrates, mourns with and supports them and their transformation through birth.
The Educated Birth: classes, blogs, and inclusive educational materials for birth workers.
Evidence on Racism and Maternal Health via Evidence Based Birth
BAE Cafe: Breastfeeding Awareness and Empowerment for Black parents in Philly + Central PA.
Luz de Atabey: Accessible perinatal care and support in Central Texas.
Joining BADT in this Work
Join us in exploring the resources in this guide and beyond. Notice what helps you expand the ways you understand birth work and reproductive health, notice what feels affirming, and notice what challenges you. Our article How to be a Birth Worker who Uses Your Privilege to Uplift Others offers some additional calls to action for folks to consider.
We’d love to see you in class! See all of our current and upcoming offerings here.