Black women are being bombarded with this “single and childless” conversation, but there’s so much more to unpack here. Opinions are like buttholes — everybody’s got one — and they’ve been thrown around carelessly for too long.
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Let’s break down some key factors behind what’s really driving these outcomes, and why folks need to stand down when it comes to Black women’s bodies and their decisions.
Not No — Just Not Right Now
Firstly, fewer women are giving birth, altogether — however this unexpected stat might shock you.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, birth rates declined for females between the ages of 15 and 34, didn’t change for females 35 to 39 – then increased for females ages 40 to 44 between 2023 and 2024. Birth rates in women over 40 saw a jaw-dropping increase of 193% between 1990 and 2023, per the New York Post. It’s giving “I’ll do it on my own time,” and the data proves this dramatic shift in reproductive patterns.
That said, Black women have long been vocal about the issues shaping their path to motherhood — so their decisions should shock absolutely no one. These issues include economic insecurity, maternal health risks, a lack of adequate partnership or simply the desire to travel and experience the world. In other words, it’s not always about avoiding children — it’s about moving with intention, protecting their bodies, and their options.
Social and Political Factors
Let’s be clear – the economic and political system doesn’t help. With Black women dominating in higher education, student loans are knocking on every door. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping tax and spending package — the One “Big Beautiful Bill” — cutting over a whopping $1 trillion in Medicaid and SNAP benefits over the next decade, per the Center for American Progress.
And nearly 300,000 Black women were pushed out of the work force in 2025 alone? Needless to say, this is a major hurdle to overcome.
For women who want children, these circumstances are certainly less than favorable — although still not a dealbreaker. Even during our worst conditions (we’re looking at you, Jim Crow), Black women have continued to overcome, bring life, and endure.
Motherhood Isn’t the Only Flex
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross is unapologetically showing the world how she lives life on her own terms, embodying what it looks like to take life into your own hands. “So much of what traveling is about for me, is not waiting for something in order to experience my life,” Ross, 52, stated in the trailer of her new Roku series, “Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross.”
“I want to be the poster child for being an inhabitant in your own skin,” she continued. “For living in your own skin.”
While the discussion of “single and childless” continues to be a pressing discussion in our community, the best path forward is one that centers safety, support, and the freedom to decide — whether you’re waiting for the right time, or have your mind made up.
It’s clear more women are feeling empowered to name what they don’t want out of life — and that in itself is a powerful shift.
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