BIRTHING JUSTICE, a feature-length documentary film, centers on the expertise and lived experiences of Black women and their advocates. As cameras follow women through pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period, medical and social justice experts expose the challenges they face—including genetic predispositions, chronic stress, racial bias, culturally ignorant care and barriers to adequate healthcare. These inequitable structures and systems have resulted in a racial disparity in maternal and infant health.
Now there’s a movement to fix the broken system, change the culture and transform our future. BIRTHING JUSTICE turns the spotlight on the progress being made by health initiatives and best practices. With input from advocates and leaders in the birthing justice movement, the film focuses on what is being done to address this national crisis and offers solutions that can be replicated in communities across the country.
BIRTHING JUSTICE gives Black women, their caretakers and their advocates a voice, a chance to be seen, heard and respected.
We must listen to Black women, for they will tell us what we need to shift the narrative and achieve true birthing justice.
Co-sponsored by BIPOC for Better Birth, Elevated Access, GEO Solidarity Committee, Illinois Students for Reproductive Justice, School of Social Work, Spurlock Museum, and YWCA Champaign County.
