Closing Comments for Black Maternal Health Awareness Week 2021 — The Vanguard

The Vanguard

We have heard from so many incredible clinicians, artist, doulas, advocates, policy folx, staff, birthing people, and citizens. The beauty and magic of reproductive justice and birth justice is the range and appreciation that we all deserve better . We can engage reproductive justice to develop a new narrative to unleash the creativity of humanity.

I’m here for the constellation of folx [you see what I did there!] who are activated to improve the environments for Black Birthing People — whether you work in cancer, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatry, eye care, dermatology, public health you are part of reproductive justice!!! No matter what your work in the world is — artists, musicians, auto technicians, essential workers, hospital and hotel cleaners, gardners, it doesn’t matter. We are here to collaborate, not compete. The speakers you’ve heard from today are proof of that. We amplify each others’ work — cause the goal of our work is JUSTICE AND JOY!

Black Maternal Health Awareness is a part of the Black Futures we can reimagine. As we retrofit the broken systems that current limit our Black Brilliant Braintrust, know that we can also reform institutions into what we need them to be. This was all built and it can be remade.

For all the Black Mamas, Black Papas, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, and those of you like me on Team Fairy God Aunt, and BADASS aunties, Happy Black Maternal Health Awareness week — Thank you for visioning a new and imaginative future. Let’s unleash our collective power to get the policies, educational experiences, clinical practices, and research that will bring us to justice and joy!