You Okay, Sis?: Black Midwives & Mamas Matter with Cessilye R. Smith

Truth's Table

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2019

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Trigger Warning: Due to sensitive and upsetting information shared in this episode. In this episode, You Okay, Sis?: Black Midwives & Mamas Matter with Cessilye R. Smith, Christina and Ekemini are joined by Cessilye R. Smith. Cessilye is a racial and maternal justice activist committed to tearing down walls of oppression and division to build bridges that lead to solution-based practices. Her journey began with her struggle with infertility and lack of awareness of her own body and then the eventual healthy, safe and beautiful births of her own children. Over the years she has witnessed time and time again the devastating impact systemic failures in healthcare, housing and economics have had on the human condition. Constantly bearing witness to the impact of structural racism and the violence of our collective inaction, while also being active in activism and faith circles has given her the ability to see the overlap in these structures and the drive to pursue justice in an unconventional way. She is passionate about finding commonalities and creating unlikely allies within her work, as Cessilye believes we are stronger when we can find the symmetry in our differences. Cessilye's passion for black women and for her community is what compelled her to co-found Abide Women's Health Services, an organization that exists to improve birth outcomes in communities with the lowest quality of care. Executive Director, activist, reconciler, speaker and educator are just a few of the many hats she wears. Cessilye resides with her husband and best friend Ramon and their three (one on the way) remarkable, world-changing children in Dallas, TX. Pull up a chair, grab your teacup, and join us at the table! Article referenced in this episode: Black Mothers Keep Dying After Giving Birth. Shalon Irving's Story Explains Why https://www.npr.org/2017/12/07/568948782/black-mothers-keep-dying-after-giving-birth-shalon-irvings-story-explains-why Follow Cessilye R. Smith on social media: Instagram & Twitter: @CessilyerSmith Instagram & Twitter for Abide: @Abide_Women Website: www.abidewomen.org Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Transcript

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0:00.0	And the Hey y'all, y'all, welcome to Truth's table, midwives of culture for Grace and Truth.
0:23.7	I'm a Kimmene and I'm Christina.
0:26.3	This table is built by black women and four black women.
0:28.8	So welcome to the table, see, how you doing, good?
0:32.0	You know, I'm, you you know I'm doing all right how you doing
0:36.1	since you okay sis girl well no I'm not okay but but we gonna get to that yeah in a minute but first of all where's
0:46.2	M where's where she is in doing all the things all the things you know actually I
0:52.4	don't know where she is a
0:53.2	this present moment but she's not I'm just joking
0:57.0	Simon San Diego is out here and trying trying to trying to try to try to
1:00.3	trying to make the country do right is what she is right now. That's right. We know she in the land and living because we were texting with her.
1:06.6	And the land of the living and she is not incarcerated at the moment, hallelu. Yes. And yeah, she's out there trying to be consistent in both her faith and in her deed.
1:19.0	So pray for it, which you know what?
1:22.0	Thank God for the blood because we need the Lord to help us in those things.
1:27.0	But yeah, but pray for her, pray for her work and pray for all the folks out here that are really trying to honor their neighbors by seeking justice on their behalf.
1:38.0	And we know we have some folks and some friends at the table who are, that's their's works we always want to be mindful of them yes and we want to keep them lifted up in prayer but certainly our dear sister Michelle is one of those folks
1:50.1	Yes yes you know and speaking of of course of bringing forth justice for our neighbors, you know, we are still in the U-Ksist series, young, and black midwives and mamas is on the table because black
2:08.8	midwives and mamas matter. Amen. Everybody should agree with that.
2:13.0	And so, and by, you know, and we have the really distinct honor of actually bringing our sister,
2:21.0	Sessily Smith to the table table who does this very thing.
2:24.8	Cecily, welcome to the table, sister.
2:27.0	Hello, ladies.
	...

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