For Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens, medicine was more than a profession—it was a mission. At a time when...
Reproductive healthcare has never been just about medicine for us—it’s about survival, resistance, and reclaiming our autonomy. From the days of slavery, when our ancestors were forced to bear children they couldn’t protect, to today’s fight against Black maternal mortality, Black women have always been at the forefront of reproductive healthcare, even when the system worked against us.
We have been the midwives, the healers, the doctors, the policy makers, and the advocates—whether or not history chooses to remember our names. We’ve had to carve out our place in medicine, challenge racist policies, and demand better care, not just for ourselves, but for our communities. And despite centuries of systemic barriers, we continue to lead.
As we honor Black History Month, let’s recognize the Black women who have shaped reproductive healthcare—from those who were experimented on without consent to those who fought their way into medical schools, to the modern-day warriors advocating for reproductive justice. This is our history.
From the Plantation to the Clinic: Black Women Have Always Been Healers
Before we could become doctors, before we could walk through the front doors of hospitals, we were already taking care of our own. Our foremothers were midwives, herbalists, and healers, delivering babies, treating illnesses, and providing care in a world that refused to see them as experts.
During slavery, Black women were forced to nurse and birth children—both their own and those of the people who enslaved them. Many were skilled midwives, relied upon even by white women to bring life into the world. But that expertise didn’t protect them.
One of the darkest chapters in reproductive health is the story of Dr. J. Marion Sims, the so-called "father of modern gynecology," who experimented on enslaved Black women—without anesthesia, without consent. Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey, the women whose bodies were violated for science, never received the credit they deserved. Yet their suffering laid the foundation for procedures still used today.
Even after slavery ended, Black midwives—often referred to as “granny midwives”—continued to serve our communities. But as modern obstetrics grew, their knowledge was devalued, and they were pushed out of practice by a medical system that prioritized white male doctors over Black women’s lived expertise.
Still, we persisted.
Breaking Barriers: The First Black Women in Medicine
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895) – The First Black Woman Doctor in the U.S.
In 1864, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree—an achievement that came at a time when Black people, and especially Black women, were denied access to formal medical training. She chose to dedicate her career to maternal and child health, serving freed Black people after the Civil War.
Her book, A Book of Medical Discourses, is one of the earliest medical texts written by a Black person, and it centered the health of Black mothers and babies. She knew then what we’re still fighting for today: when Black women receive quality maternal healthcare, we all do better.
Dr. Matilda Evans (1872–1935) – Fighting for Black Mothers and Children
Dr. Matilda Evans was the first Black woman licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina. She saw firsthand how Black women and children were being shut out of healthcare and took it upon herself to change that.
She founded free clinics to provide maternal and child healthcare and led public health campaigns to promote prenatal and postnatal care at a time when Black women had little to no medical support. Her work laid the groundwork for the community-based healthcare models we see today.
Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens (1909–2001) – Championing Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Cancer Screenings
A pioneer in reproductive healthcare, Dr. Helen Dickens was the first Black woman admitted to the American College of Surgeons and spent her career advocating for the reproductive health of Black women. She led teen pregnancy prevention programs and pushed for Black women to have access to cervical and breast cancer screenings—issues that still disproportionately affect us today.
Her work set the stage for initiatives focused on early detection and preventive care, recognizing that reproductive healthcare is about more than just pregnancy—it’s about holistic well-being.
Reproductive Justice: The Fight for Our Bodies
The fight for reproductive justice didn’t start with Roe v. Wade, and it doesn’t end with it either. For Black women, reproductive justice has always been about more than just the right to choose—it’s about the right to safe pregnancies, quality healthcare, and bodily autonomy.
Dorothy Roberts, JD – Exposing the Reproductive Control of Black Women
Legal scholar Dorothy Roberts, in her groundbreaking book Killing the Black Body, laid bare the history of reproductive oppression in the U.S.—from forced sterilizations of Black women in the 20th century to welfare policies that sought to control our fertility.
Her work reminds us that the struggle for reproductive freedom isn’t just about access—it’s about power. It’s about making sure Black women have control over our own bodies, our families, and our futures.
Dr. Joycelyn Elders – The First Black U.S. Surgeon General and a Bold Advocate
Dr. Joycelyn Elders wasn’t afraid to tell the truth. As the first Black U.S. Surgeon General, she advocated for comprehensive sex education, contraception access, and policies to improve maternal health outcomes.
She pushed for Black women and girls to have the information and resources to make informed decisions about their health—because education is power.
Modern-Day Leaders in Reproductive Health Equity
Dr. Uché Blackstock – Addressing Racial Bias in Maternal Healthcare
Black women are still three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Dr. Uché Blackstock is fighting to change that. As the founder of Advancing Health Equity, she is tackling racial bias in medicine head-on and advocating for maternal health policies that prioritize Black women.
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett – Breaking Barriers in Medical Research
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett played a critical role in developing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, proving once again that Black women are leading the charge in public health. Her work reminds us that we are not just patients—we are the scientists, the researchers, the innovators shaping medicine.
Michelle Obama – Normalizing Conversations Around Fertility
By sharing her struggles with infertility and IVF, Michelle Obama helped shatter the stigma around Black women’s reproductive health. Her transparency has encouraged more open discussions about fertility, miscarriage, and access to reproductive care in our communities.
The Fight Continues
Black women have fought for centuries to shape reproductive healthcare. We’ve been the caregivers, the advocates, the healers, and the change-makers. And while we’ve made progress, we still have work to do.
Black maternal mortality rates are still too high. Access to reproductive care is still unequal. Our voices are still being ignored.
But we won’t be silenced.
Join the Conversation
We’re not just talking about history—we’re building the future. Join the Health In Her HUE Community Forum to connect with other Black women, share experiences, and access resources dedicated to reproductive health and justice.
Create your account today and be part of a movement working to ensure reproductive healthcare is truly equitable for all.
For more on Black women’s contributions to reproductive health, check out our article: Honoring Black Women’s Impact on Reproductive Health & the Future.
