My guest this episode is Jamarah Amani. Jamarah is a community midwife who believes in the power of birth and the right of every birthing person to the care and services they need. Jamarah’s lived mission is to do her part to build a movement for Birth Justice locally in South FL, nationally in the US, and globally. A community organizer from the age of sixteen, Jamarah has worked with several organizations across the United States, the Caribbean and in Africa on various public health issues, including HIV prevention, maternal and infant mortality, access to emergency contraception and access to midwifery care. She’s currently the director of Southern Birth Justice Network, a non-profit organization working to demand dignity for pregnant and parenting people and to make midwifery and doula care accessible to marginalized communities. Jamarah is also the co-founder of National Black Midwives Alliance and was the 2019 recipient of the Trailblazer Award from the City of Miami.
Our conversation centers around Birth justice, racial maternal disparities, the power of alignment, and doing life (and birth) on your own terms.
Mentioned in this episode:
Statistics on black maternal health
Kira Dixon Johnson, 4Kira4Moms
Black Mothers Keep Dying After Giving Birth. Shalon Irving's Story Explains Why
Southern Birth Justice Network
Donate to Southern Birth Justice Network via PayPal
Black Midwives Alliance
Legacy Power Voice: Movements in Black Midwifery (documentary film)
How to Survive the End of the World podcast
Emergent Strategy : Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown
The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Tomi Adeyemi Crafts Fantastic Worlds with Words
Your Attention Please - A Hulu Podcast
Black Stories Presents: Your Attention Please