PODCAST FINAL

The podcast episode discusses the history of African-American midwives and their vital role in communities. It focuses on Mary Coley, a granny midwife whose story is captured in the documentary "All My Babies." The episode also highlights the racial disparities faced by African-American midwives and the challenges they endured, including during slavery. Despite these challenges, African-American midwives played a crucial role in maternal and infant health. The history of these midwives has influenced the modern midwifery movement, and it is important to celebrate and recognize their contributions. To ensure their legacy, the midwifery profession should be diversified, and the stories of remarkable midwives like Mary Coley should be told. This will create a more inclusive and equitable future for midwifery. Welcome back to Unveiling the History of Sex, Race, and Medicine, the podcast that explores the history of intersexuality, sex, race, and inside of medicine. I am your host, Ryan Warford. Today, we have an incredibly special guest, Elijah Abbott, a student at St. John's University who has a strong interest and passion for African-American midwifery and women's health. He's here to discuss the vital role African-American midwives played in our history. Welcome today, Mr. Abbott. Thank you, Ryan. It's really a pleasure to be here. So to start off our conversation today, Elijah, let's dive into our primary source, All My Babies, a midwife's own story, a documentary released in 1952. This documentary provides a unique look into the life of a granny midwife named Mary Coley. Mr. Abbott, what exactly is a granny midwife, and what struck you about Mary Coley's story? Well, Ryan, granny midwives are truly incredible women of the 18th and 1900s doing jobs similar to what a modern midwife does now through our neighborhoods that were typically people of colored backgrounds or those who did not have access to physicians. Granny midwives are accountable for many successful births and were a crucial part of the birthing experience, offering mother's care that wouldn't be accessible elsewhere and is very much needed. These granny midwives were there to provide comfort and help delivering the baby. They would go as far to give emotional support and spiritual guidance, all while helping through the delivery process by managing pain, checking the position of the baby, and even taking care of the child postpartum. They helped to make childbirth as untroubled and inviting by bringing an extensive care-based focus to the process. And Mary Coley's story is a window into the incredible dedication and skill that African-American midwives brought to their communities. She delivered hundreds of babies, often in challenging conditions, and this film beautifully captures her work. What is remarkable is that despite the limited resources and training available to her, she was deeply committed to ensuring the well-being of mothers and infants she cared for, providing the importance of these granny midwives. Wow. Elijah, the stories of granny midwives is truly incredible. Now I know you've done your research surrounding the topics on things like Christina Craven and Monica Laetzel's article, Downplaying Difference. Could you care to shed some light on the historical accounts of African-American midwives? Could you possibly discuss how Mary Coley's story relates to the broader historical context? Absolutely. Downplaying Difference highlights the racial disparities in the way midwives were portrayed and recognized historically. African-American midwives were often overlooked, despite their essential contributions to maternal and infant health. Subtle views of the times pained granny midwives as sloppy and wrongdoing work. Mary Coley's story, Captured in All My Babies, serves as a poignant example of the work these midwives did and the challenges they faced. That's fascinating. I've heard that the practice dates back to the time of slavery, which Deidre Cooper Owens discusses in her book, Medical Bondage. How does this work illuminate the experiences of black midwives in the context of slavery? Well, Medical Bondage offers a comprehensive examination of the intersection between race, gender, and medicine during an era of American slavery. It's essential, Orion, to understand that many midwives during this time were previously enslaved black women or came from an enslaved past. Their expertise care was exploited, and they were often subject to degrading treatment in the name of medical progress. This history, deeply rooted in the mistreatment of black midwives, directly shaped the African-American midwifery tradition. It's clear that the African-American midwives faced significant challenges and yet continued to play a crucial role in their communities. How has the history influenced the modern midwifery movement? The history of African-American midwives serves as a source of resilience and empowerment. In the face of adversity, they provided crucial care. Today, there's a resurgence of interest in midwifery and a recognition of the importance of culturally competent care. It's essential that the lessons of history are now forgone and that the contributions of African-American midwives are acknowledged and celebrated. That is a great and powerful message. In closing, how can we ensure the legacy of African-American midwives continue to be celebrated and recognized in the field of midwifery? To honor their legacy, we must actively work to diversify the midwifery profession, providing opportunities and support for all individuals pursuing careers in midwifery. Additionally, we should continue to tell the stories of remarkable midwives like Mary Coley and acknowledge the historical contributions of African-American midwives. By doing so, we can build a more inclusive and equitable future for midwifery. Thank you for joining me today, Mr. Abbott, and for shedding light on the important topic and emphasizing the significance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of African-American midwives. We appreciate your insight and expertise. Thank you, Ryan. It's been a pleasure to be a part of this conversation. That is all today, folks, for your episode of Unveiling History, Sex, Race, and Medicine. We hope you found this discussion enlightening and inspiring. Join us next time as we continue to explore the world of midwifery and the remarkable individuals who have shaped it.