Black History and Futures Month 2025

Illustration of three raised fists coloured in yellow, green and red, with graphic text that reads, "Black History Month."

February 5, 2025

February is Black History and Black Futures Month, an important time to acknowledge and work towards ending the racial injustice, erasure and oppression faced by Black communities. It is also a time to celebrate Black leadership, brilliance and contributions. This month serves as a reminder that honouring Black voices and knowledge and advancing racial justice is not just a one-time event, but an effort we must collectively engage in year-round.

There is growing backlash to combating anti-Black racism and promoting reproductive health, racial justice and human rights. Especially in this political climate, it is critical that we remain steadfast in our individual and collective commitments to amplifying Black voices and celebrate the value and strength of Black communities, especially Black midwives, midwifery students and colleagues.

The United Nations announced that 2025-2034 will be the Secondary International Decade for People of African Descent, as the first decade (2015-2024), fell short of delivering the intended change. This is a call for global action to address the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, and to prioritize reparatory justice and human rights for people of African descent. It is a call to make individual and collective commitments to dismantling anti-Black racism in our day-to-day lives, regardless of our race – our resistance will look different but must be enduring.

Achieving racial justice in midwifery is a strategic priority for the AOM, as outlined in the Strategic Plan. An important component of this work is to remove barriers to Black representation and leadership in the profession. Some examples of this include the creation of an appointed position for a Black midwife on the Board of Directors to ensure Black lived experience and perspective at decision-making tables; allocating resources towards increasing member awareness of anti-Black racism; developing tools and resources that help midwives create more equitable work and learning environments; creating spaces for Black midwives and students to connect and offer peer support; and supporting the Racial Equity Committee of the Board to provide guidance to the AOM. Other ways we are working toward this strategic commitment is by collaborating with the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) to understand how systemic racism manifests in the health-care system, including in care delivery and the psychological safety of providers; and by evaluating Clinical Practice Guidelines through a Black health and equity lens to understand how structural racism as a social determinant of health impacts health outcomes, and thus support midwives to prevent racial biases and stereotypes from informing care.

Midwives are encouraged to engage in racial justice work, remaining mindful of the ongoing systems of oppression within white supremacy culture, and the crucial need for reparations.

This month, there are numerous events throughout Ontario where you can learn about Black history, strength, and excellence. Midwives can participate, engage and contribute to this vital work.