Preserving the Legacy

The African American midwife had a vital role in advancing maternal and infant health in the United States, using traditional and public health practices.

By understanding the legacy of the African American midwife, we can see the relationship between cultural competency and diversity in the midwifery profession to improve birth outcomes for women of color. Wilkie (2003) writes, “In addition to their medical expertise, Black midwives were bearers of cultural and communal standards.” Collins (1994) termed the “work done on behalf of one’s own biological children or the community as ‘mother work.'” The African American midwife kept midwifery viable, as most of the country adopted the medical model of birth.

Shafia Monroe’s Presentation

• Investigates the work of the African American midwife in improving birth outcomes
• Teaches the history and perspectives of the evolving Black midwife and the “Soul Sistah midwives”
• Helps participants list the contributions of the African American midwife in improving the maternal and child health crises
• Explores the role of Black midwives in rural and urban communities and their evolution shaped by human agencies and changing social norms
• Analyzes the effect of racism on traditional customs of the African American Midwives

In this program, Shafia shares her journey to becoming a renowned midwife of the 21st Century and “Queen Mother of A Midwife Movement”.

Legacy of the Black Midwife