Black Maternal Health Week (Day 4): Community Is Everything. . .

This week is going by really fast and Black Maternal Health Week is almost over for 2026. Today, I want to talk about the importance of community for Black mothers. As a people, we thrive in community as opposed to isolation. Community is what has gotten us through tough times, fun times, and memorable times. Much has been accomplished in the Black community when we rely on the strength of our community. Because of this, it makes sense that a Black mother would need her community as she embarks on all the changes, challenges, and even the fun milestones of motherhood. It is important when thinking about community, to remember some key things that can ensure that the community a Black mother is in is supportive to her and the baby.

Validate, validate, and validate some more:

Motherhood is tough, regardless of what stage you are in or how many children you have. So it is important that the experience of a Black mother is validated. The hard times she is expressing are listened too and empathized with. The confusion she may feel when figuring out a new routine or how to adjust to a new baby, should also be validated. Similar to what I talked about in Day 2 with pregnancy loss, sometimes its best to just listen as opposed to offer advice. Sometimes its good to simply acknowledge that it sounds hard for the mom, letting her know that you hear and see the experience she is going through. On the other hand, you can also validate the accomplishments the Black mom is making. Some things may seem easy and like a simple task, but again, depending on the stage of motherhood a Black mom is in that accomplishment may need some acknowledgement and validation from her community. So make sure you take a moment to validate a Black mom in the bad and in the good.

Show up:

An important part of community is to show up and be present. Motherhood is isolating, and if there are plans to hangout or have a phone call make sure you keep your word. By keeping your word, you can prove to be a solid force in the relationship, which makes you someone that the mom may turn to in difficult times. Showing up and keeping your word doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be simple. Be yourself, show up with positive energy, and be a part of the community for the Black mom. Because again, isolation is often the most difficult part of motherhood, so showing up can help a mom through the rough patch of feeling lonely.

Bring the kids along:

If you have kids, bring them along to be part of the community. Never underestimate the power of a playdate to form a connection and sense of belonging for the Black mom. Remember, community is big for us, so bringing your children along to be part of the community simply adds to the beauty of the village. Your kids can play with other kids, while you get to be in community with the mom. Sharing motherhood stories, experiences, concerns, and joys can be the difference between a mundane day, to a day that feels like it was full of connection and life.

That’s all I have for you today, but I will be back tomorrow for Day 5. Until the next time I decide to show up in your inbox, make sure you do something that makes you Bloom Into Your Best Self. . .