We Believe Black Mamas Matter

We value Black women’s lives, knowledge, and leadership. We trust Black women and prioritize Black women’s voices. We recognize, celebrate, and support Black mamas – those who care for and mother our families and communities – whether they are trans, cis, or gender non-conforming. We stand in solidarity with all Black mamas.

We Fight for Racial Justice

We center the people and communities that are most affected by poor maternal health outcomes. We acknowledge the role of race and racism in maternal health outcomes, care, and policy. We work for racial equity and the empowerment of Black people within and beyond the health system.

We Demand Reproductive Justice

We align with the reproductive justice movement, which centers women of color in the struggle to recognize the human rights of every woman to: decide whether, when, and under which conditions she will reproduce; have a baby or end a pregnancy; and parent the children she has with the necessary social supports in safe environments and healthy communities, without fear of discrimination or violence.

We Recognize Intersectional Oppression

We recognize that people live at the intersections of race, gender, and class and experience multiple forms of discrimination as a result of their individual context. We believe that racialized, gendered, environmental, and economic experiences influence maternal health outcomes, and that to improve maternal health we have to address all axes of oppression.

We Demand Government Accountability and Policy Change

We hold our government accountable at every level — global, federal, state, and local — as we pursue policy change to improve Black maternal health, rights, and justice. We believe that Black people must be active participants in the policy decisions that impact their lives.

We Foster Collaboration

We encourage cross-sectoral collaboration to address racial disparities in maternal health and to implement a vision of maternal health that respects, protects, and fulfills Black women’s human rights. We recognize that the challenges we face are multiple and complex, and we strive to be inclusive of diverse stakeholders and viewpoints. We recognize the value of sharing information across disciplines and geographies, and of working together toward shared goals of health, equity, dignity, and bodily autonomy in maternal health.

We Respect Community Knowledge and Leadership

We support community mobilization, community-building, and community-driven solutions. Too often, Black women are not recognized for the work they are doing to improve the health and well-being of our communities. We celebrate Black women’s ingenuity and resourcefulness. We acknowledge Black women’s traditional, cultural, and historical contributions to maternal health and birthing practices. We also recognize and respect differences between contexts and within communities, as well as the need for locally-tailored strategies.

We Lead with Love and Generosity

We love Black mamas and approach this work with generosity towards all who are working for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. There is much to do: we need many voices and perspectives at the table.