Release
BET DIGITAL LAUNCHES SACRED HANDS: THE RISE OF BLACK DOULAS IN HONOR OF BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK
New Short Documentary Spotlights Black Doulas on the Front Lines of a Maternal Health Crisis, Premiering April 11 on BET Digital
Los Angeles, CA – April 7, 2026 – BET Digital today announced the premiere of Sacred Hands: The Rise of Black Doulas, a two-part documentary launching April 11 in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week 2026. The documentary follows three Black doulas as they share advocacy and the life-saving power of culturally rooted care, filmed on location at Kindred Space Los Angeles, a Black-owned birthing center in South Los Angeles.
Black women in the United States are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Against that backdrop, a generation of Black birth workers has emerged to fill the gap left by a medical system that has historically dismissed Black women’s pain and minimized their voices. Sacred Hands puts those women at the center.
Shot in the documentary tradition at Kindred Space Los Angeles, the film features intimate single-camera interviews with doulas Keesha Hernandez, Jazmin Culver, and Curtrelle Rawls, each bringing a distinct lens to the work—from hospital-based advocacy to community care to holistic birth support. BET Correspondent Falen Hardge guides viewers through their stories, offering a full portrait of a movement that is both urgent and deeply personal.
“This film doesn’t center fear. It centers protection. Black doulas are not a trend. They are a tradition,” says Yesha Callahan, Producer of Sacred Hands: The Rise of Black Doulas.
Sacred Hands is part of BET Digital’s Black Maternal Health Week programming, a dedicated editorial and content initiative shining a light on the disparities facing Black mothers and the community-driven solutions rising to meet them. The documentary will be available across BET Digital platforms beginning April 11, 2026.
Beyond the screen, the film aims to spark real-world impact: normalizing doula support in Black communities, raising awareness about maternal health disparities, and fueling policy conversations around doula access and Medicaid coverage.
Sacred Hands: The Rise of Black Doulas was produced and edited by Richardson Roberts and Yesha Callahan.
ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP
The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), is the world’s largest media company rooted in community, culture, and connection for the Black community. For over four decades, BET has served as a trusted home for Black audiences, amplifying authentic stories, elevating Black voices, and creating spaces where culture thrives and community comes together.
Through a powerful portfolio of brands—including BET, BET Her, BET Studios, and VH1—along with FAST channels such as BET Tyler Perry Comedy, BET Tyler Perry Drama, BET Comedy Movies, BET Cinema, BET Classics, BET Visionaries, BET Throwbacks, and BET Pluto, BET connects audiences across cable, digital, live events, studios, and global platforms. Together, these platforms deliver culturally resonant content that reflects the depth, creativity, and impact of the Black experience.
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BET Press Contacts:
Mercedes Smith
Autumn Griffin
Erica Knox
