All My Babies: A Midwife's Own Story

This film is the story of Mrs. Mary Coley, an African-American midwife more than half a century ago in rural Georgia. Conceived as a demonstration film for illiterate "granny" midwives, its production sponsored by the Georgia Department of Public Health, "All My Babies" quickly transcended its initial purpose. It was used around the world by UNESCO and has become an enduring classic of non-fiction film.

Generally speaking, I like this film for what it shows about the delivery process. But more so, I like that it shows how we have come a long way since. Children are not dying because a midwife forgets to wash her hands. New mothers rarely die in childbirth and if new babies die it is something beyond anyone's control.

Unfortunately, so are greed, racism, and hatred it would seem. These are precious moments in time forever captured on film so we can remember, and hopefully affect positive change by virtue of this amazing woman and the foundation of goodwill she and others poured.

I was absolutely amazed by the qualtiy of this film when I saw it in the Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress. The film was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2002,a nd for just cause. More things like this need to be saved, and more people need to see them.