The recently published book Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy, and Childbirth centers the birth and reproductive experiences of black women. The following book synopsis is taken from the Routledge publishing site:

“There is a global crisis in maternal health care for black women. In the United States, black women are over three times more likely to perish from pregnancy-related complications than white women; their babies are half as likely to survive the first year. Many black women experience policing, coercion, and disempowerment during pregnancy and childbirth and are disconnected from alternative birthing traditions. This book places black women’s voices at the center of the debate on what should be done to fix the broken maternity system and foregrounds black women’s agency in the emerging birth justice movement. Mixing scholarly, activist, and personal perspectives, the book shows readers how they too can change lives, one birth at a time…”

While this book will undoubtedly contribute to dialogues around black women’s reproduction, birth, and reproductive justice efforts for years to come, Black Women Birthing Justice also provides a medium for which to read book chapters for free online and discuss them. There is also an accompanying discussion guide that any professor or reproductive justice enthusiast can utilize to initiate conversation on the contents of the book.

The online community of folks reading and discussing online, can be found here.

Links to  the study guide can be found here and you can purchase the book online from Routledge here as well.