Juneteenth & Birthwork: Holding Space for Liberation
Dear CommUnity,
Today, we pause to honor Juneteenth—a sacred reminder of both the liberation our ancestors fought for and the freedom we are still claiming. June 19, 1865, marked the day when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas were finally informed of their freedom—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth is not just about the past. It’s about the ongoing journey toward freedom in all its forms—especially for Black bodies, Black families, and Black birth.
As a Black birthworker, my work is deeply tied to this history. It’s not just about bringing babies into the world—it’s about making sure Black birthing people are seen, heard, protected, and honored. Because even now, freedom in the birthing space is not a guarantee. Systemic racism shows up in the form of medical neglect, misdiagnosis, under-resourcing, and trauma that too many of us carry into pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Juneteenth is important in birthwork because it reminds us:
That our wombs have held generations of pain, power, and possibility.
That our healing is a radical act of resistance.
That every time we support a birth, honor grief, or hold space for someone’s story, we are interrupting centuries of silence.
That liberation is not just about laws—it’s about how we are treated when we give life, how we are allowed to rest, and how we are cared for when we need to be held.
At Flow Freely, I hold space for that kind of liberation. A space where healing doesn’t have to be earned. Where your story is sacred. Where your Blackness isn’t questioned—it’s honored.
So today, I invite you to take a deep breath. To reflect. To remember. To rest. To celebrate how far we’ve come; and commit to the work ahead.
Because Black liberation is ongoing. And birthwork is one way we keep it alive.
With deep love and reverence,
