Building Power for Black Liberation: Jackie Vaughn’s Vision for Justice
Jackie Vaughn, the Executive Director of Surge Reproductive Justice, recently joined host Deaunte Damper on “We Live in Color” to discuss the intersection of anti-racist organizing, Black maternal health, and the necessity of radical solidarity. Vaughn, who described herself fundamentally as an anti-racist organizer, shared the deeply personal experiences that fuel her work in South Seattle and beyond.
From Personal Discovery to Systemic Change
Vaughn’s path to organizing began during her undergraduate studies when she encountered statistics that mirrored her own family’s history. She realized that her father’s experiences with incarceration and poverty were not merely individual choices but were the direct result of institutional racism.
This realization proved to be a turning point for Vaughn. "If racism can be done, it can be undone," she said, emphasizing that understanding the systemic nature of harm is a crucial step toward healing. By naming these stories, she argues, communities can shift blame away from individuals and back onto the institutions responsible for that harm.
The Fight for Black Maternal Health
At the heart of Surge Reproductive Justice's mission is the advocacy for Black maternal health. Vaughn highlighted a major achievement for the organization: securing Medicaid reimbursements for doulas in Washington State.
Vaughn described doula work as both "life-saving" and "ancestral," noting that doulas provide essential emotional and physical support that significantly improves birth outcomes for Black pregnant people. Before the policy change, the high cost of doula services, often ranging from $2,000 to $4,000, made them inaccessible to many in the community.
Through community mobilization, Vaughn and her team helped pass legislation that now offers the highest reimbursement rate in the country. "Anyone can create legislation and work to pass that," Vaughn said. "It's just about how do we as a community build our power in order to do that.”
Vaughn invited the community to Surge and My Time for Massage’s upcoming documentary screening “Rooted in Care: Honoring the Black Maternal Health Experience” on April 11th, a film that explores the history of Black birth workers and the contemporary experience of birthing while Black.
Her final call to action was a reminder of the community’s inherent worth: "Black women, Black birthing folks... we deserve a good Black birth,” she said.
Learn more about Surge Reproductive Justice here.
Reserve a spot at “Rooted in Care: Honoring the Black Maternal Health Experience here.
Watch “We Live In Color” Thursdays at 8 p.m. on all Converge Media streaming platforms.
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