"I Brought You Into This World" is an intimate, character-driven documentary following three pregnant Black individuals of varying gender identities as they navigate pregnancy in a post-Roe America. The film exposes the profound impact of political and social conditions on maternal healthcare, revealing deep racial and gender disparities.
SYNOPSIS
In the wake of escalating attacks on reproductive rights and the ongoing U.S. maternal health crisis, "I Brought You Into This World" offers a timely and powerful exploration of Black women's diverse pregnancy experiences across America. This character-driven documentary follows the journeys of three women, each navigating unique but interconnected challenges as they seek survival, dignity, and autonomy over their bodies.
In New York City, one woman, pregnant after years of infertility and medical trauma, finds solace in her own agency and access to lifesaving healthcare—a privilege she has learned to never take for granted. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Missouri, another woman, already a mother, bears the heavy grief of losing her brother, Mike Brown, whose death ignited the global Black Lives Matter movement. Pregnant again, she faces intergenerational trauma and domestic violence, all while contending with a state where miscarrying could endanger her safety. In the American South, a mother of two confronts the devastating consequences of restricted reproductive rights as they embark on a dangerous journey across state lines, denied an abortion in their home state.
"I Brought You Into This World" goes beyond surface-level narratives to reveal the complexities of Black pregnancy, neither casting judgment nor moralizing any choice. Instead, it highlights the resilience of these mothers as they fight for agency and navigate a system stacked against them. The film is a compelling call to action, celebrating the power and diversity of Black motherhood while laying bare the urgent need for reproductive justice.
By supporting this film, you will be helping to amplify the voices of those whose stories are often unheard. "I Brought You Into This World" is more than a documentary—it’s a labor of labor to ensure that Black pregnant people’s experiences are seen, heard, and protected in a post-Roe America.
Director Statement
I Brought You Into This World explores the urgent issues of pregnancy, childbirth, abortion access, and reproductive justice for Black people across the gender spectrum. It tells the stories of Black women and gender-diverse individuals navigating daily life shaped by generational trauma and systemic violence, while emphasizing their power, joy, and resistance.
My journey began with the 2014 uprising after the murder of Michael Brown, which led me to use film as a powerful tool for change. As a labor and delivery nurse, my personal and professional experiences uniquely position me to tell this story with sensitivity and care.
Since 2019, this project has evolved in response to the pandemic, the fall of Roe v. Wade, and threats to Black birthing rights. The film centers Black voices and experiences, portraying the complex realities of pregnancy without traditional experts, allowing those living the stories to narrate their own.
This documentary is not just a film—it's a call to action for reproductive justice, celebrating resilience and the dignity of Black lives.
Supporter Statement
You Lucky You Got A Mama depicts the root causes of maternal mortality as they emerge in the everyday lives of Black women and gender-expansive people. Furthermore, while the film raises the disparity at its origins as a cause for concern, it also uplifts the work Black women are doing to save themselves from the consequences of the system and structural racism as a counternarrative to the pathologization of Black pregnancy and Black bodies. You Lucky You Got A Mama is an honest portrayal that needs to exist for a number of reasons, but most importantly because Brittany is the best person to tell this story.
-- Mervyn Marcano
Co-Founder, Blackbird
CEO of Field/House Productions at CBS Studios
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Director Brittany Ferrell
Brittany Ferrell’s journey as an organizer began in 2014, after the tragic murder of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. She became a key figure in the Ferguson Uprising, dedicating countless hours to the fight for justice—a journey chronicled in the documentary *Whose Streets?*. Since then, Brittany has emerged as a transformative force in the St. Louis community and beyond, known for her unwavering commitment to social justice and equity.
Her passion for uplifting the health, wellness, and dignity of Black people has shaped her work in maternal-infant health, reproductive justice, and carceral abolition. Over the years, Brittany has successfully merged her activism with her professional and scholarly pursuits as a public health nurse and researcher. Her academic work focuses on the intersection of race and gender health disparities in pregnancy and the harmful effects of chronic stress on physical well-being. Since 2019, Brittany has become a filmmaker, in her own right.
I Brought You Into This World marks Brittany’s directorial debut, a documentary that continues her lifelong dedication to amplifying the voices of Black women and gender-diverse people, advocating for bodily autonomy, and confronting the systems that perpetuate inequality.
Brittany holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a Master of Public Health from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Her advocacy is grounded in both lived experience and rigorous scholarship, making her a powerful voice in the fight for reproductive justice.
Producer Shannon Sun-Higginson
Shannon Sun-Higginson is a two-time Emmy-winning documentary producer and director. She launched her career producing the Anthony Bourdain travel series "No Reservations" (Travel Channel) and "Parts Unknown" (CNN). Her first feature, “GTFO,” was funded on Kickstarter, premiered at SXSW, and was featured in The New York Times. She has since produced and directed a range of acclaimed projects, including executive producing “The Witmans” (Discovery), producing the Peabody Award-winning docuseries "Philly DA" (Sundance, PBS), and directing two episodes of the premium food and travel docuseries "Take Out” with Lisa Ling (HBO Max). Most recently, she produced the award-winning documentaries "Kenyatta" (Frameline, Outfest), "Grand Knighthawk" (ABC, Hulu), and "LA Rebellion" (PBS). Shannon is a two-time Sundance fellow.
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ABOUT YOUR DONATION
Women Make Movies (WMM), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization registered with the New York Charities Bureau of New York State and accepts charitable donations on behalf of this project. Your donation will be spent by the filmmaker(s) toward the production and completion of this media project. No services or goods are provided by Women Make Movies, the filmmaker(s) or anyone else associated with this project in exchange for your charitable donation.
Your contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and a confirmation of your donation will be sent via email. WMM will send you an acknowledgement letter in the mail to the address listed for tax purposes.