Birth justice is about building a future where every individual experiences birth with justice, joy, and autonomy. It means investing in community-led solutions that center equity, dignity, and liberation—prioritizing culturally-reverent, holistic care models that honor midwifery and reproductive autonomy. For Black and Indigenous communities, midwives have long been guardians of birth, preserving culture and safeguarding families. The birth justice movement seeks to restore that legacy by advocating for policies, education, and care systems that truly support families and communities.
To realize this vision, we must also dismantle the white supremacist and capitalist structures that drive reproductive oppression, such as the culture of birth in the U.S. that prioritizes profits over community-centered care. Perinatal mortality rates amplify these deeply rooted injustices, hindering access to healthcare, safety, and freedom. The systematic targeting and erasure of midwives have been central to these harms, undervaluing life-saving services and stripping communities of vital care networks and autonomy.
Supporting the work of frontline birth justice organizations is essential to building systems of care that protect reproductive autonomy, honor cultural traditions, and center the needs of those most impacted by injustice.
Together, these organizations call for deep systemic change. They remind us that birth justice is not a luxury—it is urgent and essential. To realize this vision, we must fund, amplify, and follow the leadership of Black, Indigenous, birthworkers of color. Join the movement to build a future where every family can thrive and every birth is honored.
The birth justice movement is bigger than any one organization—it’s a call to all of us. Change happens when people take action, share resources, and move together with purpose. Whether you are a parent, a birthworker, an advocate, or simply someone who believes in justice, your contribution matters.
Invest – Give $25/month or more to a frontline birth justice organization like SBJN, NBMA, BCE, or your local community birth center to help build long-term power and infrastructure. Quick Action: Set up a $5–$10 monthly donation today and add a calendar reminder to revisit in 90 days.
Fund – Support the call to fully fund birth justice, such as by contributing to scholarships for Black and Indigenous midwives or aiming to sponsor at least one midwife-in-training per year. Quick Action:Buy one textbook from the wishlist of a Black, Indigenous, or student of color or contribute $25 to a scholarship fund.
Amplify – Share 5 stories per year from the Birth Justice Origins Project with your networks to uplift intergenerational wisdom. Quick Action: Share the Birth Justice Bill of Rights with someone in your life and post one quote or stat to your social feed today.
Educate – Host a community meeting or birth justice film screening, teach-in, or book circle with at least 10 participants to spread birth justice history and knowledge about the benefits of midwifery care. Quick Action: Invite 3 friends to a 45-minute virtual read-along; send the calendar link and one of these Black papers as a primer.
Advocate – Contact your state and federal representatives at least 3 times per year to demand policies that expand midwifery access and protect reproductive autonomy. Quick Action: Call one legislator this week and tell two friends about it, sharing a template based on what you said.
Shift Resources – If you work in philanthropy, direct at least 10% of your reproductive health or equity portfolio to Black, Indigenous, people of color-led midwifery and birth center organizations. Quick Action: Add one midwifery org to your next grants docket and schedule a 20-minute intro call.
Organize – Join or start a local community or organizational birth justice working group, ensuring at least 50% of participants are directly impacted community members. Quick Action: Join the National Black Midwives Alliance as an ally member and invite two colleagues or neighbors to do the same.
Honor – On Black Midwives Day (March 14th), donate, host a story-sharing event, or amplify online. Set a working group or organizational goal of 100 posts or $10,000 raised annually. Quick Action: Sign the BMD petition.
Celebrate – During National Birth Center Week (September 14–20), visit a birth center, uplift its story, or host an event sharing the power and potential of midwifery care and birth centers with 10 or more people in your community. Quick Action: Write a 3-sentence testimonial about your local birth center and share it with a photo.
Pledge – Sign the Beloved Birth 50 by 50 Pledge and join the Beloved Birth Giving Circle to ensure that by 2050, 50% of U.S. babies (across birth settings) come into the world with the care of midwives, and invite at least 5 friends or colleagues to sign too. Quick Action: Text the pledge link to your group chat with one sentence on why you signed.
Midwifery care is holistic, healing, and humanistic. It has a rich herstory and legacy in communities of color.
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