Meet Ashley and hear her thoughts on Black Women and Birthing Justice
Hi, I’m Ashley, and I want to share my thoughts on the book Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy, and Childbirth because I’m deeply passionate about this topic and about empowering women to embrace the birth experiences that feel right for them. By reflecting on stories like those in Birthing Justice, and raising awareness of the issues explored, I hope to play my own small part in the movement to improve maternal healthcare for all.
Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy, and Childbirth (hereinafter referred to as the book or Birthing Justice) is edited by Professors Julia Chinyere Oparah and Alicia D. Bonaparte, both of whom have dedicated their scholarly careers to exploring antiracism, feminism, and reproductive health and justice.
This book captivated me for many reasons, some expected, others surprising. Anyone who truly knows me would understand how deeply, its central themes resonate with me, not just as a woman, a black woman, or a lawyer (of sorts), but as an individual, it speaks to every facet of my identity.
Personal Connection
Based on the title, I anticipated a discussion on maternal healthcare for Black women and was eager to explore research-based perspectives on the topic. I recognize that Black women are not a monolithic group, and while my own experiences and opinions may be unique, they are also shared by many. I hoped the book would affirm or challenge some of the assumptions and discussions I’ve had with myself and loved ones on this issue.
I was born in the UK but have Ghanaian heritage. My grandmother was born in Ghana and raised in the UK from the age of six by an English woman, whom our family affectionately calls “Mother.” This part of my family history solidifies my dual sense of home, both in the UK where I was born, and Ghana, the land of my ancestors. My grandmother, despite being raised outside of her cultural background, always expressed deep gratitude and love for "Mother." She instilled in me the belief that love, trust, friendship, and the ability to nurture others is not bound by race. Holding this perspective, I found it difficult to comprehend that birth justice is even a debate, that Black women still need to advocate for their rights to have children (or not) and to birth in a way that honours their choices. As explored in the book, these rights are fundamental human rights.
As both a mother and an aspiring pregnancy yoga instructor, I am passionate about improving maternal care. This book provided historical context for the crisis affecting Black women and helped me understand its broader impact, not just on Black women, but on all women and society as a whole. Yoga teaches us that we are all connected in oneness, and I believe that to be an effective pregnancy yoga teacher, I must be aware of the factors that shape the experiences and birth intentions of those attending my classes.
Understanding the Crisis The death of George Floyd in 2020 and the resulting Black Lives Matter movement led to global conversations about systemic racism, including its presence in UK institutions. This period of reflection coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed major racial disparities in mortality rates. Against this backdrop, the UK began addressing the crisis in Black maternal healthcare, with media outlets, social media discussions, and documentaries such as Rochelle Humes' The Black Maternity Scandal, bringing greater awareness to the issue.
One statistic has been seared into my mind, appearing on the very first page of this book: Black women are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy - related complications than white women. This immediately raises the question: Why? If all humans share the same anatomy and physiology, why does a racial gap exist in successful birth outcomes?
In answer to the above question Birthing Justice reveals the harsh realities of how disempowerment, patriarchy, medical racism, and systemic neglect deprive Black women and their babies of safe, adequate care at the most vulnerable times of their lives. Through a collection of personal accounts from midwives, doulas, mothers, and activists, the book amplifies Black women's voices placing them at the forefront of a conversation that directly affects them. This structure feels intentional and powerful, particularly when read alongside chapters detailing the dehumanization and lack of autonomy that Black women have historically faced. It serves as a direct counter to the systems that have long dismissed their agency, both in medical spaces and beyond.
Despite each contributor's unique experience, a common thread runs throughout the book: birth is a sacred rite of passage, and women possess the innate strength and wisdom to birth their babies. This power should not be restricted or diminished by systemic barriers. By sharing birth stories, cultural traditions, ancestral wisdom, and acts of political resistance including the very act of birthing itself we can work toward dismantling birth injustice and, as the book states, "change lives, one birth at a time.”
New Perspectives
A chapter that increased my perspective was Confessions of a Black Pregnant Dad by Syrus Marcus Ware. I had never encountered a "Black pregnant dad" before, and this contribution to the book made me reflect on how we can celebrate, empower and support women but at the same time acknowledge and respect that there are people who have given birth and will give birth, that do not identify themselves as women and in thinking about birth and reproductive justice, equal thought and consideration should be given to trans and gender non-conforming people.
A key take-away from this section of the book was that we may not always possess the knowledge and breadth of experience relevant to every person or situation we may encounter in the course of our lives or work, however if we approach these encounters with respect, openness, inclusivity in action and language we can make some effort towards affording all individuals the dignity and encouraging support that they deserve when it comes to exercising their right to birth.
Lastly when Ware said “none of these [frustrating] examples have affected our family as much as the way that race-based thinking is projected on the tiniest of humans” I never felt closer to somebody I had never met but only read about before, the sentiment he shares here is definitely a pervasive thought and concern for me within my life as a mother and underpins the choices I make within my family unit. Another thought-provoking chapter by Loretta J. Ross explores how the myth of overpopulation has historically been used to justify radicalised population control. She introduces the concept of spatial deconcentration, a term from the 1968 Kerner Commission Report referring to the breakdown of Black communities through gentrification and dilution of Black voting power in urban areas. This chapter urges us as activists or readers to expand our definition of birth justice, recognizing how policies that seem unrelated to race often have deeply racialized agendas and consequences. Living in London, I see firsthand how gentrification has reshaped urban areas, and this made me question the broader implications of contemporary population control on communities of colour.
Inspiration
Throughout Birthing Justice, there are countless statements that I found deeply moving and personally empowering. Some of my favorites include:
“I wanted a birth that was as loud or quiet, messy, active or still as it needed to be.”
“My son was born free of chemical interference and on his own terms . For just
one moment, his first moment on this earth, we had achieved self-determination “
“As an African and palestinian woman, I carry heaviness a fear of loss of loved ones
intensified by my inability to find home.”
Viviane Saleh- Hana
“ I realize that some of us become mothers not at the moment of birth but in the
treasured moments of love that follow.”
Jacinda Townsend - A Post-C-Section Journey
“I have realized that to be a pregnant man is to be a spectacle. Male or not public attitudes about pregnancy render the pregnant person an object of public display. Every stranger you meet is likely to touch your belly without asking. I am torn between wanting to proclaim my pregnancy to the world, inevitably rendering me female to even my friends and family and wanting to remain seen as masculine, thus seemingly inevitably not pregnant.”
Syrus Marcus Ware - Confessions of a Black Pregnant Dad
“Not everything that is faced can be changed :but nothing can be changed until it is
faced.”
James Baldwin
“Having a natural childbirth, I’ve realised is not a specific way of giving birth without
medical interventions. Rather it is a practice of recognising life, celebrating love and
listening to our bodies.”
Iris Jacob, What I Carry : A Story of Love and Loss
“For to survive in the mouth of this dragon we call America we havde had to learn
this first and most vital lesson – that we were never meant to survive . Not as human
Beings.”
Audre Lorde (A Black Feminist Poet)
“I hope that you choose to love yourself radically, to share your love against the odds, and to share your story in order to empower others to do the same.......love your way and on your own terms.”
Haile Eshe Cole – A Love Letter to My Daughter:Love as a Political Act.
“Mothers who eventually deliver by c-section also demonstrate their power. A woman
relinquishing her life to a surgeon as a means to ensure life for her child, is a
courageous act.”
Griselda Rodriguez – Reclaiming Afro Indigenous Ancestral Wisdom
One particularly powerful quote states:
“When I see a woman in active labor, electric and alive in her power, I am reminded
that birthing itself is an act of resistance to dehumanization.”
This deeply resonates with me because whether a birth unfolds naturally or via
medical intervention, every mother exercises immense courage and strength.
Moving Forward as a Pregnancy Yoga Teacher
At the heart of this book is the profound message that birth is spiritual, normal, and beautiful. As I begin my journey as a LushTums Pregnancy Yoga instructor, I will carry this message into my practice. It is easy for expectant people to lose sight of the sacredness of birth due to the physical discomfort, societal pressures, and medical interventions. I want to help remind them of their power.
The book’s positive birth stories, such as that of Dr. Christ-Ann Magliore, who successfully had a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home, emphasize that birthing women and people need encouragement, support, and full autonomy over their choices.
I will use yoga to help women build trust in their bodies, reminding them of their courage and strength, just as mothers have done for centuries. Regardless of how their birth unfolds, they will know they have taken charge of their experience. I will strive to create an inclusive, safe space for all expectant individuals, being mindful of language and honouring the truth that every journey to parenthood is valid, special, and unique.
Whilst I appreciate that perspectives on birth justice will vary, I would highly recommend this book, especially to those working with or supporting women and birthing people. I found Birthing Justice to be an empowering, insightful, and thought-provoking read one that has the power to educate and unite us all.
I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this important topic, and I look forward to welcoming you to my classes in Chingford, East London, very soon!
By Ashley Asiedu, LushTums East London (Lullabumps)
Author’s note: I discovered LushTums during my first pregnancy, and it was truly transformative. The classes helped me manage anxiety, ease physical discomfort, and connect more deeply with my pregnancy. I was especially inspired by my teacher’s authenticity and how each session was thoughtfully tailored to meet my changing needs. That experience inspired me to support others on their journey ,offering the same insight and care that made such a difference to mine. Now, as a mum of two little ones, I’m honoured to hold space for parents-to-be in my local community through Lullabumps, offering support, connection and calm as they prepare for birth and beyond.
