According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Black women die during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first postpartum year at 4x the rate of white women, and this occurs across all income levels.
As a company spending time and supporting those in the loss, miscarriage, and infertility communities, The Noble Paperie believes it is imperative to address the disparities in maternal and fetal mortality rates among Black women. We feel the best way to do this, is to educate ourselves and our community on the systemic racism present in our healthcare system, and then follow the lead of, directly support, and fund those already working in the Black community. Reproductive justice needs to be comprehensive, universal, and warrants continuous attention and support. Below you will find foundational reading, as well as several communities and accounts of Black birth workers. Support them. Fund their education and work. It is imperative that we pay them for their time and energy.
FOUNDATIONAL READING
If you are unaware of the statistics and structural racism that is rampant in our healthcare system, specifically in reference to Black women’s maternal health, we would encourage you to educate yourself with some foundational reading:
2018
Black Women’s Maternal Health: A Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Persistent and Dire Health Disparities
2018
The Health Care System and Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality
2019
How America is Failing its Black Mothers: Shedding light on high maternal mortality rates in African American women
DONATE DIRECTLY TO BLACK BIRTH WORKERS AND MIDWIVES
Below are resources for giving and redistributing funds and resources to Black, Indigenous & PoC birth workers, leaders, and other organizations. Please note, this is by no means an exhaustive list. If you have a resource or community you would like us to include here, please contact us.
Abide Women’s Health Services
To provide easily accessible, culturally competent care for all women who have need with the goal of: reducing infant and maternal mortality, reducing pre-term birth, reducing low birth weight babies, increasing breastfeeding rates and increasing the number of midwives and birth workers of color.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. We center Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. Be part of the movement to advance Black Maternal Health, Rights, and Justice! Your gift will help fund their work to ensure Black mamas thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.
National Black Midwives Alliance
The National Black Midwives Alliance trains and organizes midwives to serve as advocates to address disparities in maternal health care that impact black birthing people. Their central goal is to have a representative voice at the national level that clearly outlines and supports the various needs and interests of Black midwives.
Birth Wild Awake
Birth Wild Awake is a continuous effort to support the health, wellness, vitality and education of Black Indigenous People of Color + Doulas in the U.S. with an emphasis on centering Black families and Black Doulas. Donations are strictly used to provide educational scholarships to BIPOC Doulas seeking mentorship and skill sets to help them support BIPOC families.
Birth and Bereavement Doula Training and Certification Program by Sisters in Loss
Fund a scholarship for the Birth and Bereavement Doula Training and Certification Program with Erica McAfee of Sisters in Loss. Erica hosts a 6-week course that teaches how to provide support during pregnancy, labor, birth, loss, abortion, and postpartum periods.
Kijiji Sisterhood
The Kijiji Sisterhood supports Black people and our allies in Communities of Color in reclaiming the birth and parenting wisdom in our community. In acknowledging our innate power we will join together to build, protect, support, teach, celebrate and cultivate Black motherhood. The Kijiji Sisterhood will work to increase the health and wellbeing by improving birth and breastfeeding outcomes. By removing barriers to learning, support, and culturally appropriate health support we will build a system that improves the maternal and infant mortality in Black and Brown communities.
Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color
Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color’s main work is for individuals, families, and communities of color to have timely access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive support around perinatal mood & anxiety disorders and also to see themselves represented in the perinatal professional field.
Southern Birth Justice Network
Midwifery care is holistic, healing, and humanistic. It has a rich herstory and legacy in communities of color. Souther Birth Justice Network’s vision is to make this care accessible to all peoples- especially Black, Brown, youth, immigrant, indigenous, LGBTQ+, low- income and other marginalized communities. Their mission is to expand Birth Justice by using storytelling, popular education, and community organizing to improve access to midwifery and doula care.