Black History Month, or Black Futures Month as I prefer, hits differently this year. It’s a scary time for Black people in North America. A president that most Black American voters did not choose has taken control of the White House. Trump’s second term is a manifestation of a sociopolitical climate wherein some will openly say that all Black people in professional jobs are unqualified DEI hires who should be relegated to “Black jobs.” These people are gleefully expecting some “Black jobs” to open up as all the migrant fruit pickers get deported.
At the same time, the president won’t stop talking about annexing Canada. The party leading in the polls for our federal election this year embraces similar ideologies as the MAGA movement, creating fear and anxiety for Black Canadians who don’t want to see the same sociopolitical climate ushered in here.
Since 2019, significant progress has been made in the US to secure public funding for doula care, with programs often targeting Black and other racialized groups. This is in response to numerous studies demonstrating that there is a Black maternal health crisis in the US. Black women are 3 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. We are also more likely to die from postpartum complications, more likely to have preterm labour, and a variety of other adverse outcomes. Similarly, Black neonates are more likely to die, experience birth injury, and have low birth weight. Researchers have agreed that social determinants of health such as medical racism, and racial trauma and stress are to blame.
Research also demonstrates that birth and postpartum doula care is an effective and cost-effective intervention that improves outcomes for Black birthers and babies. Black Congresswomen Alma Adams and Lauren Underwood, who co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus in 2019, have been significant contributors to systemic progress. This bipartisan caucus works to address the disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women in the United States through legislation and advocacy.
Now these gains are at risk. The first month of the Trump administration sets a very different tone regarding what we can expect in terms of support for public health and health equity. In the first week, he withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), the body responsible for coordinating international responses to global public health crises such as the pandemic. He also signed an executive order directing federally run insurance programs to exclude coverage for gender-affirming care for trans people (ie Medicaid, Tricare, etc) and public funding for abortions.
This administration is also making decisive moves against teaching Black history. For example, content regarding the Tuskeegee airmen has been removed from Air Force training. Seeing which way the wind is blowing, Google rushed to comply with this new direction by canceling its DEI programs and removing Black History Month, Indigenous People’s Month, and Pride Month from its calendar. Other companies have made similar moves. In a climate like this, support for Black maternal and neonatal health initiatives is in jeopardy, while the Black perinatal health crisis persists.
Given the power of the United States, and Trump’s threats against the sovereignty and independence of various nations, including Canada, Gaza, Mexico, Panama, and Denmark, global anxiety is high. Many people in the US and around the world don’t like the direction in which things are headed and recognize that resistance is needed. As doulas and birth workers, we are already engaged in a path of resistance to medicalized and systemic violence against gendered, racialized, queer, disabled, and equity-deserving bodies.
The intention of the “shock and awe” executive orders of last month is to demoralize the average person and make us feel like there’s nothing we can do. This is far from true. Fascist regimes are always met with sustained resistance, and they always crumble sooner or later. Our mission is to ensure that this happens sooner rather than later and mitigate the suffering caused in the meantime. Here are some practical strategies and tips on surviving and thriving in the resistance movement in the coming years.
Self-Care
All of these dramatic and alarming changes happening overnight and the uncertainty about what will happen next takes a toll on our mental health and well-being. That’s the point. Mentally ill people just trying to survive each day cannot resist effectively. Taking care of ourselves is one of the most important steps we can take to weather the coming storms. Brainstorm activities that make you feel better and try to do at least one thing on that list each day. Monitor yourself for symptoms of clinical mental illness and seek treatment as soon as you think you might be unwell. Support Black scholars and writers by checking out Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry movement and her books Rest as Resistance: A Manifesto, and We Will Rest. The Nap Ministry advocates for liberating ourselves from the expectation to be constantly working, and building communities of collective rest and healing through art and grassroots organizing.
Understand Intersectionality
It’s telling that the Trump regime is attacking Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and low-income people. It’s consistent with the theory of intersectionality first advanced by Black feminist legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw. Oppression is not siloed. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, and other discriminatory mindsets work together as a well-oiled machine. Marginalized groups and allies must also work together. You are probably familiar with the post-WWII poem, “First They Came” by Rev. Martin Niemöller. Do not wait for them to come for you personally. There is a very good chance they will come for you eventually. Stand in solidarity with people who are under attack right now. Inform yourself about how marginalized groups have already been negatively impacted by Trump’s executive orders and speak up. If you are Doula School alum and want to learn more about the Black perinatal health crisis in Canada and discuss its similarities to the treatment of Black birthers in other jurisdictions, check out the watch party to screen “The Standard of Care” on Mar 11, 2025.
Globalize Your Social Network
Globally, those who are against the current direction far outnumber those who support it. We need to find each other and grow an international solidarity movement. One important lesson of these troubling times is that no country is an Island. Many people worldwide are impacted by the actions of a government that is not theirs. Find out what like-minded people in other countries are doing and figure out how you can work together. For Doula School alumni, our private Facebook group is a great place to start. As our program grows, the group is increasingly international. It’s a good way to talk to other birth workers about how it’s going where they live, their hopes and fears for the future, and what we have in common. The goal of a regime like this is to lock us in an “us vs them” mentality that fuels hate and fear and makes us easier to manipulate. Finding common ground and building solidarity with diverse communities is an essential act of resistance.
Consumer Harm-Reduction
Pay attention to how you vote with your money. As we all know by now, the opening volley of the US regime’s efforts to control the world is to initiate a trade war with numerous countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China. Check the labels on the products you buy and support your local economy whenever possible. The stronger each nation’s economy is, the less power the trade war and tariff threats hold. The people in power are highly motivated by money. This is the language they understand. If you live in the US, do some research and support companies that are defiantly maintaining their EDI initiatives and divest from brands that are complicit in these regressive policies.
Votes Matter
Are there elections coming up soon where you live? Pay attention to elections at each level of government, inform yourself about the different policy platforms and how they will affect you and your community, and VOTE on election day. Over a third of eligible US voters didn’t show up on November 6, 2024. We’ll never know what would have happened if they had. A key takeaway from the current chaos is that election outcomes have a significant impact on the daily lives of average people. We must exercise our democratic rights along with these other crucial actions. For those in Ontario, Canada, this means being ready to vote for a Premier on Feb 27, 2025. Ensure that you are registered, or have the documentation you need to register on election day handy. To register on election day, you need proof of address to confirm you are voting in the right riding (e.g. a utility bill) and a provincially recognized ID (e.g. a Canadian passport).
Join Grassroots Movements
Make an effort to learn about organized resistance that is already happening in your community and join their efforts. Share information with your friends and social networks about reputable organizations doing good work. Follow resistance organizations on social media and support their actions wherever possible. This can include going to demonstrations, calling and writing your elected representatives, volunteering, signing official petitions, and more. Don’t underestimate the power of grassroots movements. Regular people working together have been instrumental in bringing down every corrupt and oppressive regime throughout history. The people united will never be defeated.
About the Author – Keira Grant
Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities
Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator role. She is a Queer, Black woman with a twenty-year track record in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) education, projects, and community building initiatives.
