At Mama Doula Network, we often talk about the "Latino way of care." To us, this means warmth, community, and a deep respect for the traditions that shaped us. But as we walk alongside families in their most vulnerable moments, bringing new life into the world, we also have a responsibility to look deeper. We have to talk about identity, race, and the beautiful, complex intersectionality of the families we serve.
Today is "Roots Wednesday," a day where we honor where we come from. As a network of doulas, we believe that supporting a family doesn’t just mean checking a blood pressure cuff or suggesting a position for labor; it means honoring the entire person, their history, and the world their child is about to enter.
Specifically, we want to talk about fostering honest conversations around Black and Afro-Latino identity. For many of our families, identity isn't a simple checkbox. It is a rich tapestry of African roots woven into Latin American cultures, a cultural heritage that is powerful, resilient, and sometimes, unfortunately, overlooked even within our own communities.
The Importance of Honest Dialogue
Why start these conversations so early? Why talk about race and identity before a baby is even born, or while they are still in diapers?
The research is clear: conversations about race are not just a preparation for facing discrimination; they are a vital form of racial healing. Inspired by the work of experts like Dr. Jacqui Spencer, we recognize that when we talk openly about identity, we help prevent the internalization of trauma. We give children, and their parents, the tools to build a sense of belonging and self-worth from day one.
For many in the Latino community, there is a "disconnect" between our lived reality and our representation. Research shows that while one out of every four Latinos is of African descent, this diversity is rarely reflected in media, leadership, or even daily discourse. This erasure can lead to a lack of visibility for Afro-Latino families. As birth workers, we are in a unique position to change that narrative.
As a network of doulas, we aim to be a mirror that reflects the true beauty of our families. We want every parent to feel that their Blackness is not just a part of their identity, but a source of strength and pride within their Latino cultural heritage.
"An Uncomfortable Question": A Tool for Growth
Growth rarely happens in our comfort zones. In birth work, we often encounter "Uncomfortable Questions." These are the questions that make our hearts beat a little faster because they require us to address the "elephant in the room", whether it’s bias in the medical system, colorism within families, or the fear of how a child will be treated because of the color of their skin.
Using "An Uncomfortable Question" as a tool for connection means being brave enough to ask:
- "How does your identity impact the way you feel seen (or not seen) by your healthcare providers?"
- "What parts of your African and Latino cultural heritage do you most want to pass down to your child?"
- "Are there parts of your identity that you feel haven't been honored in this journey so far?"
When we ask these questions, we aren't looking for "right" answers. We are creating a bridge. We are saying, "I see you. All of you. And I am here to support the whole person." This person-centered care is the foundation of everything we do. It’s how we move away from one-size-fits-all advice and toward support that truly empowers.
Supporting the Intersection of Black and Afro-Latino Identity
For Afro-Latino families, navigating identity is often about bridging worlds. It’s about recognizing that heritage isn’t an "either/or", it’s an "and." You are Black and Latino. You are the product of African resilience and Latin American traditions.
However, we must also acknowledge that anti-Blackness and colorism exist within Latino spaces. Addressing this openly is part of our work. It’s about asking how we might be unintentionally upholding standards of whiteness and how we can pivot toward affirming Blackness as an essential, vibrant part of our community.
As a network of doulas, we create spaces where "young minds" are empowered by seeing their parents and their birth workers stand firmly in their truth. We celebrate the traditions, from the food we eat to the way we wrap our babies, that have Black roots, even when history books have tried to label them otherwise.
Newcomer Superpowers and Resilience
Many of the doulas and families in our network are newcomers to Canada. We often talk about "newcomer superpowers." These are the strengths that come from navigating a new country, a new language, and a new healthcare system while holding onto your roots.
Resilience is a newcomer superpower. The ability to bridge multiple cultures is a newcomer superpower. When a Black or Afro-Latino family moves to a new country, they are often building a home in a place that may not yet understand the nuances of their identity. As doulas, we act as cultural translators and advocates, ensuring that their cultural heritage is respected in the birth room and beyond.
Practical Tips for Doulas: Supporting Identity Conversations
How can you, as a doula or birth worker, support parents in navigating these identity conversations with their children? Here are a few practical ways to start:
- Start Early and Normalize: Encourage parents to talk about race and identity as a normal part of daily life, not just when a "problem" arises.
- Affirming Environments: Suggest that families fill their homes with books, toys, and art that reflect the diversity of Black and Afro-Latino experiences. Representation matters for "young minds."
- Explore Family Trees: Help parents document their family stories. Where did their ancestors come from? What were their names? What traditions did they carry?
- Validate Feelings: If a parent expresses fear or frustration regarding systemic racism or colorism, listen without judgment. Validate their experience. Your presence as a witness is a form of support.
- Address the Roots: When discussing cultural practices, like certain ways of babywearing or traditional postpartum care, take the time to acknowledge their origins. This honors the history and the people who preserved these traditions for us.
Creating a Movement for Culturally Aligned Care
We are more than just individual practitioners; we are a movement. As a network of doulas, we are working to set a new standard for care, one that is slow, respectful, and deeply rooted in culture. We believe that by fostering honest conversations about identity, we are not just helping one family; we are shifting the culture of birth work as a whole.
Every time we honor a family’s cultural heritage, we are planting a seed of self-worth for the next generation. Every time we address an "uncomfortable question," we are dismantling the barriers that keep us apart.
If you are a birth worker who feels called to this mission, if you want to be part of a community that values slow-care, cultural alignment, and the power of newcomer superpowers, we want to connect with you.
Let’s grow together.
- Interested in collaborating? Fill out our Partnership Form.
- Looking for product recommendations that honor our way of care? Check out our Amazon Lists.
- Want to stay connected? Follow us @mama_doula_canada on Instagram for daily inspiration and community.
Multilingual Self-Reflection Prompts for Doulas
EN: How do we foster honest conversations about identity and race with the families we serve?
Reflection: Take a moment to think about your last client interaction. Did you create space for them to share how their identity impacts their birth journey? How can you make your intake process more inclusive of their cultural heritage?
ES: ¿Cómo fomentamos conversaciones honestas sobre identidad y raza con las familias que servimos?
Reflexión: Piensa en tu última interacción con un cliente. ¿Creaste un espacio para que compartieran cómo su identidad afecta su proceso de parto? ¿Cómo puedes hacer que tu proceso de entrevista sea más inclusivo con su herencia cultural?
PT: Como promovemos conversas honestas sobre identidade e raça com as famílias que atendemos?
Reflexão: Tire um momento para pensar na sua última interação com um cliente. Você criou espaço para que eles compartilhassem como sua identidade impacta sua jornada de nascimento? Como você pode tornar seu processo de atendimento mais inclusivo em relação à herança cultural deles?
As we move forward, let’s remember that our work is about more than the physical act of birth. It is about welcoming a soul into a world where they are seen, loved, and celebrated for exactly who they are. Together, as a network of doulas, we are making that world a reality, one honest conversation at a time.