House Resolution 591
By: Representatives Cannon of the 58th, Bennett of the 94th, Miller of the 62nd, Hugley of the
141st, and Schofield of the 63rd
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, recognizing March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day underscores the
importance of midwifery in achieving better maternal health outcomes by addressing
fundamental gaps in access to high-quality care and multiple aspects of well-being; and
WHEREAS, the inaugural Black Midwives Day (BMD) campaign, founded and led by the
National Black Midwives Alliance in 2023, is a day of awareness, activism, education, and
community building; and
WHEREAS, this day is intended to increase attention on the state of Black maternal health
in the United States, the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, and
community-driven policy, program, and care solutions; and
WHEREAS, BMD venerates the work and contributions of past and present midwives who
have ushered in new life despite a history fraught with persecution, enslavement, violence,
racism, and the systematic erasure of community Black midwives throughout the 20th
century; and
WHEREAS, the resurgence of Black midwifery is a testament to the resilience, resistance,
and determination of spirit in preserving healing modalities practiced worldwide—the focus
on holistic care, which involves caring for the whole person, family, and community, is what
makes a difference in midwifery; and
WHEREAS, midwifery honors a birthing person's right to bodily autonomy; can be
facilitated at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital; and works in tandem with doulas,
community health workers, obstetricians, pediatricians, and other health care providers; and
WHEREAS, Black families benefit from access to Black midwives to receive culturally
sensitive and congruent care established through trust and respect, backed by the wisdom of
time-honored techniques and best practices; and
WHEREAS, Black birthing people in the United States suffer from life-threatening
pregnancy complications, known as maternal morbidities, at twice the rate of white birthing
people; and
WHEREAS, maternal mortality rates in the United States are among the highest in the
developed world and are increasing rapidly; and
WHEREAS, these deaths have devastating effects on Black children and families, and the
vast majority are entirely preventable through assertive efforts to ensure Black birthing
people have access to information, services, and support to make their own health care
decisions, particularly regarding pregnancy and childbearing; and
WHEREAS, the high rates of maternal mortality among Black birthing people span across
income levels, education levels, and socioeconomic status; and
WHEREAS, structural racism, gender oppression, and the social determinants of health
inequities experienced by Black birthing people in the United States significantly contribute
to the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black
birthing people; and
WHEREAS, a fair distribution of resources, especially regarding reproductive health care
services, is critical to closing the racial disparity gap; and
WHEREAS, justice-informed, culturally congruent models such as midwifery care are
beneficial to Black birthing people; and
WHEREAS, an investment must be made in robust, quality, and comprehensive health care
for Black birthing people, as well as policies that support and promote affordable, holistic
maternal health care free from gender and racial discrimination; and
WHEREAS, the National Black Midwives Alliance is campaigning for Black Midwives Day
to strengthen the base of Black midwives and their supporters, preserve the cultural history
of Black midwifery as an important part of the story of America, provide advocacy tools to
eliminate barriers to education and resources for Black midwives, build power by developing
a national unified voice advocating for Black midwifery, address perinatal health disparities
impacting Black communities, and elevate consumer demand for access to midwifery and
community birth; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper on Black Midwives Day to recognize the tremendous
contributions of Black midwives and their role in improving maternal health outcomes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day and honor
Black midwives for their invaluable contributions to maternal health care and the well-being
of families in the State of Georgia and beyond.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.