“Defying Gravity”: How Black Women Are Reclaiming Birth Through Unassisted Choices

By “Listening to Black Women” Staff

There’s a moment in Wicked that leaves audiences breathless. Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch of the West, sings the soaring anthem “Defying Gravity,” declaring her refusal to conform to the limits others have placed on her. Cynthia Erivo’s rendition of the song in the upcoming film adaptation adds even more depth a…