The Missing Conversation: Where Are Black Fathers in Maternal Health?

As we reflect on the meaning of family during July—post-Father’s Day, mid-summer, and deep in conversations about freedom, legacy, and care—it’s time to confront a long-overlooked question in the fight for birth equity:

Where are Black fathers in the maternal health conversation?

The answer? They’ve been here all along. But too often, our systems—and even our narratives—leave them out.

At the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice (CCBBJ), we know that the health and well-being of Black moms, babies, and families are deeply tied to the visibility and inclusion of Black fathers. And yet, they remain one of the most under-acknowledged voices in maternal and reproductive health spaces.

Not Just Supporters—Partners in Birth Equity

“Black fathers are not bystanders in the birthing journey,” says Dana Sherrod, MPH, Executive Director of CCBBJ. “They’re often the first advocates, the first to notice when something is wrong, and the first to fight for respectful care for their partners. But our systems aren’t designed to honor or even hear them.”

From prenatal appointments to delivery rooms and postpartum care, Black fathers frequently face a double burden: being overlooked or excluded by healthcare providers and navigating their own fear and anxiety in a system that fails Black birthing people.

When fathers raise concerns, they’re often dismissed. When they ask questions, they’re ignored. And in some cases, they’re entirely pushed out of the conversation.

The Cost of Erasure

This erasure doesn’t just harm Black men—it harms whole families.

When fathers are excluded from care teams, crucial information is lost. Emotional support for birthing people is weakened. And the long-term mental health and bonding of both parents can suffer.

Black paternal grief, in particular, is a deeply unacknowledged aspect of the maternal mortality crisis. “When we lose a Black mother, we often lose her in silence,” Sherrod notes. “And the grief of the father, partner, or co-parent is rarely addressed.”

Rewriting the Narrative

CCBBJ is working to center Black families in full. That means pushing for policies, practices, and programs that include fathers and partners as essential to the birthing ecosystem.

This includes:

• Creating space for Black men in perinatal health programs

• Training providers to engage fathers as part of the care team

• Uplifting Black men as birth advocates, doulas, and community healers

• Acknowledging paternal grief, stress, and mental health needs

“It’s time to stop treating fathers like optional extras,” Sherrod says. “They are integral to the safety, joy, and survival of Black families.”

A Call to the Movement

If you're working in maternal health, reproductive justice, or policy, ask yourself:

• Are Black fathers visible in your work?

• Are you creating space for their voices?

• Are you listening to what they’re carrying—and what they need?

As we move toward the California Black Birth Equity Summit this October, we invite advocates, organizers, care providers, and policymakers to help bring this conversation into the light. Let’s stop treating fatherhood like an afterthought—and start building systems where Black men are seen, valued, and supported.

You Can Be Part of the Shift

• Share this conversation—with your colleagues, your care teams, your communities.

• Support father-inclusive programs and push for family-centered care models

• Listen to Black fathers. Amplify their stories, their pain, and their joy