More Black American Midwives Are Needed Across the USA After Systemic Attacks Reduced Their Numbers in the 1900s

In the 1900s, there was an across the board attack against Black American midwives from white physicians and the government, and now more than ever, more Black American midwives are needed in the United States of America.

Listen to the video below:

Childbirth within the Black American community has been under attack which has resulted in the deaths of not only Black mothers but Black newborns, and this has gone on since childbirth was made “medical” and taken over by the hospitals and white physicians who demonized the once dominant force in the USA when it comes to childbirth – Black Midwives.

Physicians and White Midwives originally learned from Black Midwives throughout the centuries as it was the Black Midwives who had the skills and knowledge during the times of slavery and after to bring healthy babies into the world for both Black and white women. However, white physicians wanted to dominate and make money and also wanted to shift labor and delivery into the hospitals while making it mandatory for licensing (increased cost).

This shut out the majority of Black Midwives because they couldn’t afford the fees to become what they already were – Midwives. It would be illegal for them to practice their skill without the necessary certifications, and in a society where there was segregation, they had no true opportunity to keep up with the changes in their profession, including working in hospitals where there was only white professional staff allowed.

Now, in the 2000s and with the drastic changes in medical and healthcare costs as well as the climbing Black infant mortality rates, there is a need for Black Midwives to dominate once again by gaining the necessary certifications and licenses while opening up Midwifery clinics and Doulas across the country in every city to care for Black American families to try and curb the infant mortality rates and the rates of Black mothers dying during childbirth.

How to Become a Midwife

There are several pathways to becoming a Midwife:

The National College of Midwifery (accredited; remain updated on accreditation) provides these pathways through:

• Associate of Science in Midwifery (ASM)
• Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSM)
• Non-Degree- Seeking Students
  • Birth Assistant Programs| Black Sisters Birth Academy

The Rhode Island Professional Midwifery Equity Initiative Program provides these pathways through:

• Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery (accredited; remain updated on accreditation)
  • Black Midwifery Collective

The National College of Midwifery and Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery provide a non-college pathway to becoming Midwives via what is called Direct-Entry Midwifery Programs & certification programs.

Find more locations and midwifery accredited schools in your area at:

Midwifery Education Accreditation Council Schools

Through these schools, one can not only become a midwife, but learn what one needs to open a Midwife Practice depending on the requirements of each particular state.