Reimagining Black maternal health narratives: Embracing a Vitality Framework for joy, liberation, and healing

Abstract

Black maternal health narratives have long been dominated by crisis-focused frameworks that emphasize morbidity and mortality, often reinforcing narratives of vulnerability, pathology, and systemic failure. While these statistics are crucial in identifying disparities, they obscure the full spectrum of Black maternal experiences, erasing stories of joy, resilience, and thriving. This essay argues for a shift toward a vitality framework—one that reimagines Black maternal health beyond survival to center joy, liberation, and healing. Drawing from historical and contemporary contexts, we explore how systemic factors—including racism, sexism, and colonialism—have shaped dominant narratives, contributing to the weathering of Black bodies. We introduce ethering as a framework that transforms these harmful effects by reclaiming Black joy as an essential component of maternal health. Grounded in principles of reproductive justice, Black feminist thought, and Ubuntu, this approach moves beyond deficit-based models to highlight the collective power of Black communities in shaping new possibilities for maternal well-being. By integrating insights from public health, advocacy, and cultural expression, this essay proposes a reorientation of Black maternal health discourse toward holistic, affirming, and future-building strategies that recognize Black motherhood as a site of power, agency, and transformation.