Mothering as Resistance: Honoring Caregivers

Motherhood has always been political. It’s about raising children—and raising communities—in systems not built for their success, and still teaching them to dream.

Those who mother are organizers, protectors, cultural archivists, and teachers. Some raise biological children, others raise chosen family or whole communities. All carry the work of survival and the hope of transformation.

Throughout history, caregivers have led both in their homes and in public life. Civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer was a caregiver and tireless advocate for voting rights and racial justice. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, balanced activism with raising 11 children, breaking barriers for Latina women in labor rights. In more recent years, Sybrina Fulton, after the tragic loss of her son Trayvon Martin, became a prominent voice against racial violence, turning personal grief into public advocacy.

These figures, and countless others whose names we may never know, exemplify how mothering can fuel activism and societal change.

This Mother’s Day, we reflect on the ways those who mother shape not just families, but movements. From the caregivers of the civil rights era to today’s community leaders, their labor and love are acts of defiance and resilience.

We invite you to share stories, photos, and reflections on the caregivers and nurturers who shaped your life. Because their power is our power.