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HEALING LEGACIES: HONORING THE HISTORY OF BLACK MIDWIVES

Updated: 4 days ago

Midwives Tanya Khemet and Brittany Mbong celebrating Black Maternal Health week in Sacramento, CA.
Midwives Tanya Khemet and Brittany Mbong celebrating Black Maternal Health week in Sacramento, CA.

The work of today's Black midwives and doulas is part of a powerful legacy rooted in the history of Black birth work. For centuries, Black midwives have served as healers, caretakers, and advocates, ensuring safe births and holistic care for their communities despite oppression and systemic barriers (Terrell, 2020). This tradition dates back to African midwifery, where birth was seen as a sacred event, and midwives were highly respected for their expertise. Using traditional herbal medicines, hands-on birthing techniques, and spiritual rituals, these midwives provided care that extended beyond labor and delivery to include pregnancy and postpartum healing. 


The history of Black midwifery is one of survival and strength. From the revered midwives of pre-colonial Africa to the Granny midwives of the American South, Black midwives have always been more than birth attendants—they are healers, advocates, and pillars of their communities. Even as medical institutions sought to erase and replace them, Black midwives persisted, ensuring that birthing people received compassionate, skilled care when hospitals were inaccessible, unwelcoming, or dangerous for Black birthing people. 


Today, midwives and doulas continue this legacy, standing on the shoulders of those who came before them. As Black women continue to face higher rates of maternal and infant mortality due to systemic racism and social drivers of health—such as unequal access to quality healthcare, financial barriers, and the chronic stress of discrimination—midwifery and doula care remain critical. The legacy of Black midwifery lives on in every birth worker who advocates for respectful, patient-centered care and in every mother who receives the support she deserves. 


Early Roots of Black Midwifery

The history of Black midwifery dates back to ancient times. One of the earliest recorded stories is in the Book of Exodus (1:15-21), where two Nubian midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, defied the Pharaoh’s orders to kill all newborn Hebrew boys, choosing instead to protect life (Black Midwifery Collective, 2024). 


According to Sharon Robinson in the Journal of Nurse-Midwifery (1984), "the first Black lay midwife came to America in 1619, bringing with her knowledge of health and healing based on her African background." African women, forcibly brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade, became the primary source of prenatal, birth and postpartum care for both enslaved women and their slave master's wives.


After Emancipation, Black midwives continued to serve both Black and white women in the rural South. Often referred to as “Granny midwives,” they were considered experts in birth work and attended up to 75% of births until the 1940s. Granny midwives played a central role in the development of American midwifery, drawing on knowledge passed down through generations (Suarez, 2020).


"Untitled: Next Day Continuing Care" photograph by Robert Galbraith, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith.
"Untitled: Next Day Continuing Care" photograph by Robert Galbraith, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith.

The Rise of Obstetrics and Challenges for Midwives

The role of midwives began to drastically change in the 20th century. Obstetrics grew, and white male doctors began replacing midwives, especially among wealthier white communities (Robinson, 1984). While midwives were being pushed out of cities and upper-class families, they continued to serve Black families in the rural South. This transition was not simply a phase-out, it was a targeted effort to remove Black midwives from the birthing process. Laws, regulations, and public health campaigns portrayed Black midwives as unqualified or dangerous, despite their long-standing expertise.


In 1921 the Sheppard-Tower Infancy and Protection Act was passed, encouraging states to create their own maternal health legislation. Many states began implementing certifications and restrictions that added major obstacles for Black midwives to practice.


Midwives tried to adapt in order to continue serving their communities by applying for permits and enrolling in formalized training programs, but many excluded Black women.

In 1925, public health nurse Mary Breckenridge a known white supremacist founded Frontier Nursing Service and the American Association of Nurse Midwives (AANM). Breckenridge refused to hire Black midwives and her racist rhetoric impacted midwives of color, especially Black midwives, for years to come. Today the number of Black midwives is disproportionately low and less than 5% of midwives in the US are people of color.


Untitled (Among Colleagues) This still of Mary Francis Hill Coley (center) and several of her colleague midwives during a hospital training was taken from the 1987 black and white documentary film, "All My Babies." Collection of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith, © 1987 Robert Galbraith.
Untitled (Among Colleagues) This still of Mary Francis Hill Coley (center) and several of her colleague midwives during a hospital training was taken from the 1987 black and white documentary film, "All My Babies." Collection of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith, © 1987 Robert Galbraith.

Honoring Historic Black Midwives


Mary Frances Hill Coley 


Untitled (All My Babies Portrait) Photo credit: Collection of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith.
Untitled (All My Babies Portrait) Photo credit: Collection of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Galbraith.

Mary Frances Hill Coley, born in 1900, was a respected lay midwife in Albany, Georgia. She delivered over 3,000 babies throughout her career and was featured in the 1952 documentary All My Babies, which showcased her skills and expertise. This film helped preserve the legacy of Black midwives during an era when hospitals were becoming the preferred method of childbirth. 


Learn more about Mary here: www.blackwpc.org/marycoley 


Maude Callen 


Angel in Twilight Maude Callen: Nurse Midwife.

Maude Callen, born in 1898 in Quincy, Florida, was a registered nurse midwife who spent over 40 years serving the rural community of Pineville, South Carolina. Many of the residents of Pineville were former slaves who lived in tar shacks lit by oil lamps at the edge of what is known as “Hell Hole Swamp.” Callen often had to park her car and walk through mud, woods, and creeks to reach her patients (Original Life Magazines, 2024). She operated a community clinic out of her home, miles from any hospital, where patients would often arrive in the middle of the night by oxcart. 


In 1936, Callen became a public health nurse with the Berkeley County Health Department (South Carolina African American History Calendar, 2022). In this role, she trained hundreds of midwives and educated young Black women on essential prenatal care, labor support, safe delivery practices, and newborn care. 


In 1951, Life magazine featured a twelve-page photographic essay showcasing Callen's work, captured by renowned photojournalist W. Eugene Smith. Smith spent several weeks accompanying Callen at her clinic and during her community rounds (African American Registry, 2024). He described her as “the most completely fulfilled person I have ever known.” 


Callen delivered between 600 and 800 babies during her career and continued serving her community even after retirement, including volunteering with the Senior Citizens Nutrition Council. Her dedication to improving maternal and infant health left a lasting impact, inspiring generations of healthcare providers and midwives. 


Amanda Carey Carter and Susie Carey 


“Midwife permit issued to Amanda Carter” owned by Amanda Carter, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Fannie Mae Carter Silver.
“Midwife permit issued to Amanda Carter” owned by Amanda Carter, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Fannie Mae Carter Silver.

Midwifery was a family tradition for Amanda Carey Carter, a fourth-generation midwife who delivered black and white babies throughout Prince Edward County. Her mother, Susie Carey, was also a midwife. Together, they delivered hundreds of babies in central Virginia, making lasting contributions to their communities.  


“Photograph of midwife Susie Carey” unidentified photographer, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Fannie Mae Carter Silver.
“Photograph of midwife Susie Carey” unidentified photographer, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Fannie Mae Carter Silver.


Midwives and Doulas Today:

Their Impact and Role in Birth 


Today, although hospital births are the norm, midwives and doulas continue to play a vital role in maternal health, carrying forward the legacy of Black midwifery. Their work is crucial for Black women, who face higher risks during childbirth due to systemic racism, mistreatment, and bias in healthcare. 


For centuries, Black midwives served as the primary caregivers, offering skilled, compassionate, and culturally rooted care. The Granny midwives of the South—like Mary Frances Hill Coley, Maude Callen, and Susie Carey—were essential in ensuring safe births in rural areas where hospitals were either inaccessible or discriminatory. These midwives not only delivered babies but also provided holistic support, serving as healers, advocates, and educators (National Museum of African American History & Culture, 2019). 


Postpartum visit with one of Brittany Mbong, CNM's patients. Brittany followed them during two pregnancies at a health clinic in Sacramento called "Salud". The patient had triplets during her second pregnancy.
Postpartum visit with one of Brittany Mbong, CNM's patients. Brittany followed them during two pregnancies at a health clinic in Sacramento called "Salud". The patient had triplets during her second pregnancy.

Today, Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are trained healthcare providers who work primarily in hospitals, birth centers, and medical offices (Our Bodies Ourselves, 2022). CNMs approach pregnancy and birth as a natural process rather than a medical condition, focusing on holistic, patient-centered care that allows mothers more control over their experience. Modern midwives center their care on dignity, respect, and patient autonomy, ensuring that women—especially Black women—receive the support they deserve. Research shows that when midwives are integrated into US health systems and lead care, there are better outcomes; including increased breastfeeding, reduced interventions, increased vaginal delivery, and lower neonatal death (Vedam et al., 2018).


Brittany Mbong assisting with doula training at BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center. Photo credit: Ed Kashi of Talking Eyes Media
Brittany Mbong assisting with doula training at BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center. Photo credit: Ed Kashi of Talking Eyes Media

A Win for Midwives in California:


Currently, California has only one master’s degree program for nurse-midwifery, at CSU Fullerton. This has forced many who are interested in the career to have to find education opportunities out of state or give up on the profession altogether.


BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center's Brittany Mbong, Certified Nurse-Midwife, went to the state Capitol in July 2025 to advocate for Senate Bill 520 which would allocate funds to launch more programs in California. Introduced by California Senator Anna Caballero, SB520 creates a dedicated fund to establishing new nurse-midwifery master programs across the state. The bill passed in September and was signed by Governor Newsome in October! More programs will help train more midwives to serve more moms with care that is proven to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.


Learn more about SB520 here.


Certified Nurse Midwives provide: 


  • Prenatal care: Monitoring the health of the mother and baby, offering guidance on nutrition and wellness, and preparing for childbirth. 

  • Labor and delivery support: Assisting with safe deliveries in hospitals, birth centers, or at home while using pain management techniques. 

  • Postpartum care: Helping mothers recover after birth, supporting breastfeeding, and ensuring the baby is healthy; newborn care up to the 28th day of life. 

  • Women’s health/gynecological care: Providing care across the lifespan outside of pregnancy, such as birth control, annual screening and exams, pap smears, menopause treatment.


BWPC Doula Ta-She-Ra Manning in her uniform.
BWPC Doula Ta-She-Ra Manning in her uniform.

Doulas offer: 


  • Emotional support: Encouraging and keeping mothers well-informed. 

  • Physical support: Using massage, breathing techniques, and movement to ease pain and discomfort during labor. 

  • Advocacy: Helping mothers understand their rights and communicate with medical staff to ensure they receive the care they want and deserve. 

  • Postpartum support: Assisting with breastfeeding, newborn care, and emotional well-being after childbirth. 


    BLACK Doula trainees reviewing birth positions and techniques.
    BLACK Doula trainees reviewing birth positions and techniques.

Sources:

 
 
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