This mother’s day we are celebrating revolutionary mothers past and present.

Those who organized for Reproductive Justice, solidarity with Cuba and Palestine, fought for Black Liberation. Those who decided to do something revolutionary in their own life by choosing self-determination over their bodies. We’re recognizing the mothers of movements and homes who make decisions that challenge social norms and usher in new change. Margaret Charles Smith (bottom center) was a Black Midwife from Alabama known for her 30+ year career, who attended over 3,000 babies from 1945 - 1980. Smith worked mostly with Black women facing serious health issues like malnutrition and lost no mothers in childbirth at a time when infant mortality among African-American women was as high as 74%. Queen Mother Moore (top center) was a lifelong activist and founder of the Republic of New Afrika, she was honored for her work with the title “Queen Mother” by the Ashanti in Ghana. Kathleen Cleaver with her son Maceo (bottom right) is a former Black Panther Party leader, lawyer, and fierce defender of political prisoners. Safiya Bukhari (top middle) was a Black Panther Party leader and political prisoner, who helped found a program called Mothers Inside Loving Kids (MILK) to prevent the separation of children from imprisoned mothers. Dr. Amira Al-Assouli (center right) is a Palestinian doctor who was filmed bravely sprinting through bullets and drones to save an injured person in Khan Yunis at one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza. Celia Sánchez (bottom left) was a key member of the Cuban Revolution, a guerilla fighter and archivist that’s been honored internationally for her revolutionary work. Mother's Day Love, ARC-Southeast