Vashti’s museum is a conduit through which she can ponder her womb’s connections to her matriarchal lineage and creative pursuits.

Saundra’s spiritual enlightenment reframes her appreciation of wombhood and inspires new rituals with loved ones.

Rennia reclaims vaginismus as the basis of her sexual agency, and reconnects to her womb and body through physical therapy.

Marla reimagines her womb space as a pathway towards sustained joy after recounting a near-fatal medical complication in early adulthood.

A crucial decision alters the course of Mahalia’s life, redirecting her career towards Philadelphia’s rich birth worker community.

Jah settles into a greater sense of self-love and equanimity following his transition, which now foster deeper connections with his womb.

Set in motion by a teenage pregnancy in the rural South, Hattie’s womb story invites us into a world of liberation and self-determination.

Denise opens up about her fertility journey, enduring medical negligence, and surrendering to her faith during moments of uncertainty.

Navigating the winding paths of grief, motherhood, and self-reliance all at once, Brianna learns to rely on her womb as a source of refuge.

Ariel meditates on the transformation of her womb space from a shared entity during marriage into a symbol of self-care following her divorce.

Welcome to Of Black Wombhood, an oral history project about the experiences of Black womb-bearers beyond pregnancy and birthing. OBW features a small group of Black, Philly-based narrators who reflect on their own personal womb stories, and I invite you to join us in contemplating wombhood with greater curiosity, imagination, and care.