Book Review: "Listen to Me Good" The Story of an Alabama Midwife in the Jim Crow days

"Listen to Me Good" Margaret Charles Smith

This is more than a memoir - it's a window into the life of Margaret Charles Smith, A ninety-one-year-old midwife who served rural Alabama with strength, skill and compassion for nearly five decades. Co-written by Linda Janet Holmes, this book captures Margaret's incredible career and the vital role midwives have historically played in underserved communities... and as the editor wrote in the preface,

"She tells of birth customs that will soon be forgotten, like making mayapple-root tea to stop a labour"

What Makes This Book Stand Out

This book gives a powerful insight into the lives of the traditional "Granny Midwives" and the challenges they faced during the harsh Jim Crow era. These women were often the only support for mothers in rural and impoverished areas, yet they were unfairly targeted by a medical system that painted them as unskilled and outdated.

Laws and policies eventually forced many of them out of practice, stripping communities of the traditional birthing knowledge and care that had been passed down for generations.

© AI-generated image by Doula Matters, 2025. All rights reserved.

The loss of these midwives didn’t just affect the women of those times—it left a lasting mark. Today, you can still see its effects in how society views homebirth and midwifery, often with scepticism or outright dismissal. The book is a reminder of how much was lost and how important it is to preserve and respect the wisdom of these women.

A Lesson That Still Echoes Today

What stood out to me the most was Margaret’s incredible dedication, even when she faced challenges like racial discrimination and a lack of resources. She had this deep confidence in her skills and a genuine care for the families she worked with, which is so inspiring. Her story really shows the strength that comes from communities coming together and the powerful role women can play in leading and making a difference. I couldn’t help but see the parallels between how “granny midwives” were treated in Margaret’s time and how modern midwives often face the same kind of criticism. Back then, they were dismissed as unqualified or unsafe, and now, it feels like that same playbook is still being implemented against homebirths and midwifery.

Why Women Should Read This Story

This book is invaluable to women, healthcare providers and anyone else that is interested in women's history - particularly the black women of the Jim Crow days as it is a heartfelt tribute to the wisdom, resilience, and quiet heroism of midwives—a legacy too often forgotten. It is more than just a historical narrative, it’s a reminder: to trust our instincts, honour our strength, and carry forward the wisdom of those who came before us.

And as Margaret would say, we’d all do well to “listen to her good.”

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