“The softest hands I ever touched belonged to a Black Elder Midwife. I realized that their hands were always catching light.”

Monica Simpson

Catching Light is a living exhibit envisioned by Monica Simpson, an artist, cultural strategist and executive director of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. Curated by Artists United for Reproductive Justice, Catching Light starts with honoring the tradition of Black midwives and birth workers in the South, with the goal of expanding across cultures around the world to preserve their stories. Maternal mortality is a serious issue that continues to disproportionately impact Black mothers, and Black midwives have been bridging gaps in care for centuries, making Black women feel safe and heard when the medical industrial complex failed them.  

In honor of Juneteenth, a season to celebrate Black Liberation, we honor Black midwives and birth workers who have been the backbone of our communities and have been doing the work of building Black futures. Archiving the existence, expertise and contributions of Black midwives and birth workers is critical to Black Liberation.