African American Birth HERstory Traditions

4/10/2019 Comments

A Candid Conversation with a Historian & Herbalist of Southern Black Midwife Traditions

"What we throw away, somebody picks up, repackages it, and sells it to you and then you want to buy it... Your assimilation and throwing away of your culture does not help you and you end up being lost." ~ Divine Bailey-Nicholas

From the moment this interview began, I knew that it would be special. The southern girl in me instantly felt a connection with Divine Bailey-Nicholas and the knowledge and experiences she was sharing. Before we ever talked about herbalism, our conversation revolved more around the rich Black culture of the South, how it developed and the importance of its legacy to our longevity as Black people and Black birth in this country.

Divine is the creator of Grandma's Hands Pregnancy and Postpartum Herbs & Nutrition in the Southern Tradition, a "6 week Online Course Focusing on the Herbs and Healing Modalities Historically used by Black Southern Midwives." She is not only a birth worker and herbalist, but also a repository of Southern history explaining ways that southern birth and postpartum traditions have influenced various aspects of broader Black culture and even the Black church in previous generations.

This extensive interview with Divine is divided into two parts. In the first part, Divine provides historical context for southern Black culture, which is important to fully embrace the historical context of birth among Diasporic Africans in the U.S. In the second part, she shares about herbs and how you can develop a healing relationship with plants around you.

Topics discussed:

The connection between northern and southern traditions in Black communities
Considering "the branches" of your family
Our history and Black culture in plain sight
Protecting the legacy of Black midwives
The similarities in the diversity of Black American Culture
Valuing others cultures more the we value our own culture
The intermingling of religion and Black birth culture
The value of the south to the African American’s story and honoring Southern traditions
The herbalist as a healer
BEING in your community and NOT BEING a Savior
RE-MEMBERING who you are
The danger of revisioning YOUR OWN history
How Black Birth workers are viewed in their communities
How to SURVIVE and THRIVE as a Black birth worker in Black Communities
The need for cultural competency within Black communities

Listen to the Podcast:

You can connect with Divine to learn about her current workshops and the work she is doing:

Website: https://www.divinebirthwisdom.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivineBirthWisdom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinebirthwisdom/
Non-profit: http://communitybirthcompanion.org/

Comments

3/4/2019 Comments

Uncompromised Pursuit of PEACEFUL BIRTHS in the Hospital Environment

“You do what’s best for your family. Always follow your heart to the degree it is respectful for the people who are a part of your life. And don’t let anyone discourage you. Whatever your passion is, you go for it." ~ Tunisia Macklin

Meet Tunisia Macklin, the Peaceful Birthing Doula. She has been a massage therapist for more than 15 years and professional doula and a placenta encapsulator for almost 10 years. However, birth has always been a part of her life and and a passion to which she feels called. While her nature is the "peaceful doula", she is also known to be unrelenting in her passion to teach women how to advocate for themselves in the hospital environment.

Tunisia Macklin of Peaceful Birthing Doula

TOPICS DISCUSSED

Passion and "the call" to birth
Birth as a family affair
Birth as a HOLY THING
How to manage the hospital birthing environment
The role of the partner during birth
Interpreting the CUES and CLUES in the medical environment
Understanding "medical necessity"
Posturing and positioning yourself in the medical environment
Helping moms navigate tough decisions
Knowing the difference between "policy & procedure" and "the law"
Knowing what you are "allowed" to do in birth
Preparing the next generation for birth
To GET PAID or NOT GET PAID for birth work

If you are ready to be inspired as well as ignited toward work with birthing families, you will appreciate this interview. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Listen to the Podcast:

Tunisia has expressed her interest in sharing with other doulas and supporting their journeys. Here are some ways you can reach out to her:

Website: www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com
Blog: peacefulbirthingdoulaservices.blogspot.com/
Email: peacefulbirthingdoula@gmail.com
Phone: (630)481-6079
Facebook: www.facebook.com/peacefulbirthingdoula
Twitter: www.twitter.com/peacefulbdoula
Instagram: www.instagram.com/peacefulbdoula

Comments

2/5/2018 Comments

A Home Birth in Chicago in the 1970s

#BirthHERstory - I am so excited to share this video of Mama Roberta Ingram. As I listened to her share about her own self-discovery and how she and the sisters she surrounded herself with reconnected to our birth traditions, I am inspired to believe that it is possible for Black women to do that again in their own circles. I am convinced that the ability to heal ourselves and our families is within our power, as it always has been. I believe this is especially true because we have so many resources available through technology and are able to communicate with one another as never before.

Mama Roberta did not continue in birth work, however, she gave a bit of advice at the end to those that may be considering birth work. It reminded me of a comment I made recently on a Facebook post:
"All I can think about are our ancestral mothers... They have so much expectation for us. They want to us to restore. They want us to 're-member' who we are and walk confidently. They want us to manifest our gifts and talents in ways they could not. Through our success in our passions, callings and chosen career paths in birth, we vindicate them and bestow upon them the honor they were denied. Let’s be bold as we move forward in this work."

Mama Roberta represents the type of women I hope will rise up to reclaim the birth rites of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers.

Do you have a birth tradition or story you would like to share from an elder?
#BirthHERstory on DrDoula.com

Comments

Forward>>

What are YOU waiting for to start learning about how to care for women during the childbearing year? Whether you are considering a career in birthwork, want to learn to help your family and friends or desire to be a resource for your community, "10 THINGS" is your starting place! Learn from from a Black historical perspective... learn from "someone who looks like you"... STOP WAITING... START LEARNING RIGHT NOW!

The voices of Black women have long been censored and/or edited. These conversations with Dr. Doula are an opportunity for Black women to share their truths and experiences in birth and birth culture in their own voices.

In other words, "She said what she said..."

When we help Birth HERstories we are acknowledging the BLACK BIRTH RENAISSANCE that is happening around the world! When we share our stories, practices, or traditions from women of African descent in America, we help preserve Black Birth HERstory. It is our responsibility as descendants of African women who were trafficked to the U.S. to hold their stories and know their practices, so that we are able to continue their tradition of being self-reliant and self-sustaining as communities of Black women.

Dr. Doula

My work is informed by my background – experiences, expertise, exposure, education & environment – as a woman, mother, wife, sister, educator, researcher, scholar, advocate, birth ally and legacy builder. #IAmTheAnswer #WeSaveOurselves
(Please note that the information shared on this blog is for information purposes only. Pregnant women should consult their PCP before following any practices found within the Birth HERstory Series Blog.)

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Birth HERstory Vlog & Podcast

A Candid Conversation with a Historian & Herbalist of Southern Black Midwife Traditions

"What we throw away, somebody picks up, repackages it, and sells it to you and then you want to buy it... Your assimilation and throwing away of your culture does not help you and you end up being lost." ~ Divine Bailey-Nicholas

Uncompromised Pursuit of PEACEFUL BIRTHS in the Hospital Environment

“You do what’s best for your family. Always follow your heart to the degree it is respectful for the people who are a part of your life. And don’t let anyone discourage you. Whatever your passion is, you go for it." ~ Tunisia Macklin

A Home Birth in Chicago in the 1970s

Do you have a birth tradition or story you would like to share from an elder?
#BirthHERstory on DrDoula.com

Dr. Doula

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YOUR CART

Birth HERstory Vlog & Podcast

A Candid Conversation with a Historian & Herbalist of Southern Black Midwife Traditions

"What we throw away, somebody picks up, repackages it, and sells it to you and then you want to buy it... Your assimilation and throwing away of your culture does not help you and you end up being lost." ~ Divine Bailey-Nicholas

Uncompromised Pursuit of PEACEFUL BIRTHS in the Hospital Environment

“You do what’s best for your family. Always follow your heart to the degree it is respectful for the people who are a part of your life. And don’t let anyone discourage you. Whatever your passion is, you go for it." ~ Tunisia Macklin

A Home Birth in Chicago in the 1970s

Do you have a birth tradition or story you would like to share from an elder?​#BirthHERstory on DrDoula.com

Dr. Doula

Archives

Categories

Do you have a birth tradition or story you would like to share from an elder?
#BirthHERstory on DrDoula.com