Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife

Women, Gender, and Health

by Margaret Charles Smith, Linda Janet Holmes

Margaret Charles Smith, a ninety-one-year-old Alabama midwife, has thousands of birthing stories to tell. Sifting through nearly five decades of providing care for women in rural Greene County, she relates the tales that capture the life-and-death struggle of the birthing experience and the traditions, pharmacopeia, and spiritual attitudes that influenced her practice. She debunks images of the complacent southern “granny” midwife and honors the determination, talent, and complexity of midwifery.

Fascinating to read, this book is part of the new genre of writing that recognizes the credibility of midwives who have emerged from their own communities and were educated through apprenticeship and personal experience. Past descriptions of southern black midwives have tended to denigrate their work in comparison with professional established medicine. Believed to be the oldest living (though retired) traditional African American midwife in Alabama, Smith is one of the few who can recount old-time birthing ways. Despite claims that midwives contributed to high infant mortality rates, Smith’s story emphasizes midwives' successes in facing medical challenges and emergencies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Memoir, Feminism, Historical, Health

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Listen to Me Good in one sitting. As a birth worker and a black woman reading this book reminded me of my Grandmother talking to me and telling me to Listen to her good, meaning pay attention to what I have to say to you. I have wisdom that I'm trying to impart on you. I'm grateful for my ancestors and for Mrs. Margaret Charles Smith. Mrs. Smith was the granddaughter of a former slave who was raised and taught by her. She never meant to be a midwife but after birthing her own babies alone at a early age and attending and helping friends and families births she decided to do it after so many people urging her. Previously she'd worked in the fields picking cotton. The labor was back breaking and paid barely nothing.

Because of racial disparities and segregation she was able to deliver and work with women in her community, even poor rural white women. I marked a few things that was said in the book that still hold true to this day about the medical community.

" She demands me be listening good when she talks about how white doctors just didn't care about poor black women. Mrs. Smith is militant in her criticism of doctors who are too busy to spend time with women.

White doctors slowly pushed black midwives out while spreading lies about black lay midwives. It was to monetize and monopolize the birth industry all the while not caring about the black women they took care of.

I've heard these stories before as a black birth worker but Listen to me Good gave me insight into her life and the lives of so many black "granny" midwives. I'm grateful for these ancestors who have paved the way for me.

[MiMi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical read about the life of granny midwife Margaret Charles Smith in Alabama. How she never wanted to be a midwife until after delivering her own babies and being encouraged by many whom she also helped. The book further discloses how midwives were rid of, eliminated from the field, their practice, their lively hoods. How midwives were the ones called upon when a baby needed to be delivered, all poor; even rural white women. Why the need to allow a woman to deliver her baby in the comfort of her own home instead of in a hospital when deemed safe. Great valid points. However the knowledge about practices, herbs, and techniques used weren’t in abundance. That’s what I was really wanting the book to get into. Stories about her deliveries and how she learned the practices she preached.

Always a fan of maternal child health books and the history behind it.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for nursing/midwifery students and pretty much anyone who cares about reproductive justice

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an account of the life and career of an Alabaman lay midwife, including the history of lay midwifery in the southern United States.

Listen to Me Good is a recorded oral history interspersed with and framed by historical background. True to its subtitle, it is the life story of Margaret Charles Smith, an Alabama “granny” midwife, rather than a documentary of lay midwifery practices in the rural Deep South in the early to late 1900’s.

The book is divided into six chapters:
* Chapter 1 “Growing Up” about Mrs. Smith’s childhood
* Chapter 2 “Pregnant” about Mrs. Smith’s early adulthood
* Chapter 3 “Official Midwife” about how Mrs. Smith became a midwife
* Chapter 4 “Birth Practices” about some of Mrs. Smith’s midwifery practices
* Chapter 5 “Civil Rights” about how the Civil Rights movement affect Alabama
* Chapter 6 “Last Days” about how state legislation and doctors ended the practice of midwifery in Alabama.

An epilogue follows, and a bibliography and index wrap up the book.

This book would be anthropologically interesting to those wishing to learn more about the lives of the rural poor in Alabama, but midwives, midwifery students, medical historians, and any other reader seeking the childbirth knowledge lost when lay and direct entry midwives were eliminated will be disappointed as it gives no in-depth information about techniques, maneuvers, herbal remedies, and folkloric practices of lay midwifery. Mrs. Smith recounts her midwifery practices only in the general terms when she tells about her experiences as a practicing midwife. In fact, Mrs. Smith rarely goes into any great detail anywhere in her narrative, and her story leaves the reader hungry for more.

The topics on which Mrs. Smith touches in chapters 3, 4, and 6 are attending vaginal breech births although she never explains were she got the rule that the baby had to be delivered in 5 minutes after rumping, making a pad on which to deliver out of 20 sheets of newspaper if the mother didn't have a spare quilt, not doing routine episiotomies, placing open scissors under the bed after birth, burning or burying the placenta, and her favorite delivery position being the mother sitting upright on the edge of a chair after the baby begins crowing although unfortunately she never discusses the pros and cons of other delivery positions or describes the others that she favors.

Mrs. Smith beautifully does explain the desire and need for midwifery and homebirth when, explaining the hospital takeover of birth. "The way I look at it, you just as soon stay home and have your baby, if possible, if you are in good health and don't have problems . . . You can have your way more at home. You have your own freedom at home. You won't have to lay down until your time come. You can get up and do things. The baby won't have to be drugged before birth from giving you those shots to knock you out . . . But these mothers, they still rather be in the hospital where they can whoop and holler, thinking the doctor is going to give them something to ease them pains, but the doctors won't be there. The nurse be back there, and they come in there very occasional. You need somebody back there with you. Now a midwife, she's got to be right there, sitting right aside the bed or sitting over you, holding you, rocking you, rubbing you" (pages 147 -- 148). This echoes the sentiments expressed by contemporary birth advocates seeking to ensure a homebirth option.

[Spring · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea of this book, but didn't really enjoy it. Lots of historical info which I liked, but felt it was pretty dry for a book about an amazing woman's life. Wanted it to be better, could've been better!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, which captures a bit of history/way of life in danger of being lost to time. Each chapter is split into parts with the first part being a third person covering of general factual information about the subject as it pertained to Alabama in various parts of the 20th century. The second part was a first person account of Margaret Charles Smith’s experiences with those subjects over the course of her life.

I think the authors struggled with editing Ms. Smith’s story to maintain the authenticity of her voice, while also streamlining her thoughts for clarity. I think they erred on the side of preserving authenticity. The end result is that her parts sometimes read more like a transcript of an oral interview than like a written memoir, with repetition and circuitous thinking. I think this is unfortunate, and that her contributions could have been better edited so that readers would still get a good sense of her voice, but also a clearer picture of events in her life, how they were shaped by the times, and how they shaped her thinking. I did enjoy her parts of the chapters. Her stories sometimes brought the history presented in the first part of each chapter into real life;into sharp focus. But sometimes they meandered and detracted from the whole.

For me the most interesting aspect was contemplating how the confluence of racism, sexism, medical knowledge and capitalism shaped the growth and subsequent demise of midwifery as practiced by the Black midwives of the south in the 20th century. And in this respect I felt the combination of history lesson followed by individual personal account served the book and readers well.

As a side note, of all the books featuring people of color that I’ve spoken to various friends and colleagues about as I’ve read them over the past two years, this one had the most people express interest. Possibly because it’s nonfiction and is also written for adults (I read a tremendous amount of young adult fiction). I find myself wishing both that this one was better edited for clarity, and that other adults were more open to reading fiction or even nonfiction for young adults as I’ve read some truly amazing books dealing with race and race relations in this country and in general in those categories over the past two years.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceptional story is told in Margaret Charles Smith's voice, the black "Granny" midwife of the title. Her biography spans the better part of the 20th century, from her upbringing by her grandmother, who was a former slave, through working life, motherhood, lay midwifery, formal midwife training and years of practice, and retirement, all in a rural, predominantly poor black region of Alabama. Her life, experiences and accomplishments as a woman, mother, and healthcare provider, often in the most difficult of circumstances without electricity or running water, and often caught between the training and ideas of white physician "supervisors" and the traditions and realities of her community, are truly amazing.

Her story intersects with historical events ranging from emancipation to the Korean War, the Tuskeegee experiments to the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement through the election of Ronald Reagan. With the help of interjections from the author providing historical, social, and geographic context, Margaret Charles Smith's remarkable life illustrates challenges faced by black women, mothers, nurses, and midwives in the Jim Crow south, and depicts a burgeoning male-physician driven medical system that was developed to serve the white and the privileged, and strategically and successively blamed, used, and disenfranched anyone, especially black women, in its path.

Anyone can enjoy and learn from Margaret Charles Smith's story, and physicians, nurses, and midwives should add this to their "must read" lists.

[Gloria Squitiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had two unnecessary cesareans, and Smith's book helped me help other woman to not become a victim of Western Medicine. Powerful storytelling that inspires females to Woman Up! Dig deep for our intuition, our power, our strength, and let no one cause us to doubt ourselves. Thank you for the life-long blessing, Ms. Smith.

Gloria Squitiro: Author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery—YOU, Too! can OVERCOME ANXIETY and live a bigger more carefree life—Become a New and Better You!

#YayWomenWriters

[Janelle]

Found this book really interesting. I had read several books of fiction and nonfiction about life in the rural south during this time period, but they were all by people who had either had not experienced it firsthand or had left at some point, since writers tend to be educated and higher educational opportunities just didn't exist for African Americans in the rural south. It was really interesting to hear from someone who lived their whole life in the rural south and who, while she became an expert in a particular skill, never had more than a basic school education.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lately, I have been very interested in reading and learning about midwifery. It was fascinating to read about Margaret Charles Smith's experience as a black midwife in the south from the late 1940s to 1980s. It was very interesting to read about race dynamics in the medical system, as well as how prenatal and postnatal care has evolved over time. I think the U.S. healthcare system needs to find a way to integrate midwives into it's system. Many countries have been utilizing midwifery care in a safe and effective manner for a long time. Overall this have been a great read.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

surprisingly painful to finish, despite such a great storyline. the narrative was annoying how it kept interrupting the story. would have liked more baby stories. but wow, what an amazing woman and story of being a black midwife during the civil rights movement in rural AL.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not so much about a Granny Midwife’s memories of patients and childbirth, but about her memories in general. It is very informative about racial inequality and lack of healthcare in the rural south. Her story is important, and invaluable.

[Tyshawn Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing skill and compassion

This is amazing history and just an incredible story. May God bless this woman for the amazing lives she’s touched and the many more like here who brought life into this world.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I would have liked more details and more specifics (such as how many babies Mr.s Smith caught, what her relationship was like with her husband and with her sons, and more stories about the births she attended), this was a well-written joint account of the historical and social issues in Greene County, Alabama along with Mrs. Margaret Charles Smith's recollections of her experiences. I recommend this book to anyone interested in women's studies, Southern Black women's experiences during the Jim Crow years, and anyone interested in the history of "granny" midwives and its intersection with the current increase in white midwives serving a middle-class population.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen to Me Good: the Story of an Alabama Midwife by Margaret Charles Smith and Linda Janet Holmes (Ohio State University Press 1996)(Biography). Author Janet Holmes met Margaret Charles Smith in Alabama in the early 1990’s. At that time, Ms. Smith was the oldest practicing midwife in Alabama. This is her oral history of being Black, a woman, and a midwife in an era in which Blacks relied on traditional cures from folk healers and on each other for home remedies for most medical needs. My rating: 7/10, finished 2003.

[Laura Stiller · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. It read more like a history book than a memoir, and at times I wanted to read more of the midwife's story than the history sections included at the beginning of each chapter. There was also less about midwifery and more about the entire life of Mrs. Smith than I expected - which was fine - I just thought I was picking up a book about childbirth and midwives.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Smith's rich and warm oral history was delightful to read... I felt as though Holmes' writings - dry, stiff, and impersonal - felt awkwardly placed in between the old midwife's accounts and I would have enjoyed the book much more without them - even if it meant having a less comprehensive understanding of the struggles of the black granny midwives in the deep south.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had different expectations of the book that clouded my opinion. I thought it was going to be more about the practice of being a midwife rather than a personal history of living in the Deep South before Civil Rights. It was certainly interesting and I'm glad I read it, but I was disappointed it wasn't what I was expecting.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, solid oral history, which I always enjoy. It was interesting and sad to me how regulated "granny" midwives have been for quite some time down South, and how completely their livelihoods were eliminated by the white male power structure there.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in two alternating voices of Alabama's oldest surviving direct-entry midwife and a young journalist providing historical and medical background information. Great to read if interested in women's health, racism, American history, civil rights, and midwifery.

[Hope Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the history presented in both fact and storytelling. I enjoyed learning about Margaret and her struggles as a black midwife. My heart was sad because of the mistreatment of black people even more than 100 years after the civil war.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's that? You need a new friend? Want to remember how badass some old ladies are? Check it. :)

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting life story of an alabama midwife, who happens to be black. she lived through most of the 20th century, delivering babies the old fashioned way.

[Lakeesha J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the last Grand-Midwives in the Alabama Community before midwifery and birth choice was banned in Alabama.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very interesting subject matter, but not incredibly well written.

[Brigid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good balance of historical and personal narrative relating to the status of midwives in Alabama in the middle of the 20th century.

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some interesting facts about midwifery in the slave Southern states, but was a bit boring and felt to me like a rough draft of a masters thesis.

[Allyson]

Having just learned that homebirthing is illegal in Alabama, I am eager to read this woman's story and learn how she was treated in this practically medieval jurisdiction.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found my old reading records from the time I was studying midwifery.

Interesting history of black midwifery in Alabama. Some herb references and cultural/anthropological references.