Excellent article at The Black Love Speak Column. Although I am sharing it here, I encourage comments to be made also at the original article.
If you live in Atlanta, Macon, or Augusta GA, you may have come across one of these signs.
Black & Unwanted billboards are springing up in various areas of Georgia. The Radiance Foundation and Georgia’s Operation Outrage have joined forces to encourage Black women to stop having abortions and to encourage Black couples to adopt black children. When I first heard about the website toomanyaborted.com, I had my own opinions. I am a strong advocate for women’s rights. And I have to admit, I didn’t really give their initiative the time of day. It infuriated me. The billboards along Georgia highways upset me even more. However, upon putting my frustration aside, I realized that they may have a few points to their argument.
Let me first say that I believe in woman’s right to decide what to do with her body. Yet, the fact that there has been a historical attack on Black life for the past few hundred years is ever present. The Eugenics movement is very real. There are those out there that are trying to create a prototype for the “perfect” human gene pool and for many, Black isn’t a part of it. Scientists, corporations, and governments have attempted/ are attempting to increase particular human characteristics while decreasing others. How can this be accomplished? By reproducing more of what is “wanted” and discarding more of what is “unwanted”. As a result, Black women have been sterilized unknowingly. Black men have been castrated. Black babies have been killed in the name of science. All of this is true. I do believe there is a movement to eradicate Black people, especially when we stand in the way of capitalist gain.
For example, Africa has been swarming with NGOs advocating safe sex through the usage of condoms. While condoms may protect against HIV/AIDS, it could also affect population growth. This is interesting, because the conversation then turns to the “Africa is over populated” rhetoric. This is completely untrue but it’s being said in an effort (I believe but could be wrong) to decrease the amount of children born to African mothers. Africa is the richest continent on the planet in terms of natural resources. Yet, many of these natural resources such as oil, gold, cocoa, fish, diamonds, tanzanite, coltane, and much more, are controlled by European countries/corporations and world powers (the U.S. included). Even though there is enough food in all of Africa to feed all the people of Africa and more, the capitalist mode of production within this neocolonial era has made it so that these resources are unattainable to many African people. This control was obtained through slavery, colonialism, and neocolonialism. African people are fighting to gain back the control over their natural resources. Wouldn’t you think that this fight would be easier for global corporations if less Africans were in the world? This is why I question the theories behind the beginning of HIV/AIDS.
What does this have to do with Black women and Abortions?
Well, if you are Black, even if the world calls you Latino or American, the African descent or DNA that runs through your veins is often the ultimate prevailer in determining your socioeconomic status in the world. If you look around, you will find that almost everywhere you go in the world Black/African lives are secondary to others in society. We are often the ones that suffer the most and die first. Many times these are needless, easily preventable deaths or illnesses. Yet, somehow, there is always a mysterious issue in solving these problems. This, I think, is not a coincidence. Indeed Black is unwanted except when Black life is used for hard labor or for entertainment purposes. Ironically, in both fields Black life is used, exploited, and then discarded after use.
Therefore, because of the history of Eugenics in the U.S. and abroad, I do not completely disagree with the sentiments of the Radiance Foundation. There are people out there that do not want Black life to grow and prosper. However, I do not believe that attacking the reproductive rights of Black women is the answer to fighting Eugenics. This is because there are many factors that surround any Black woman’s discussion to get an abortion. The reason why there is a higher rate of abortion among Black women than other races is because of higher poverty rates. Maybe we should be looking more into poverty and trying to alleviate poverty in black communities. The fight then becomes against the true source of higher abortions rates instead of against Black women.
Black women also face a lot of scrutiny when we become pregnant that other races do not face. If we become pregnant out of wedlock we are the dreaded “baby mama”. If we have a baby that we cannot financially take care of without government assistance, we are labeled as “irresponsible lazy welfare Queens”. If we take the father of the child to court for child support, we are “bringing a brotha down.” If we get pregnant by different men, we are a “Whore/Ho”. If we give the child up for adoption, we are uncaring mothers. If we choose not to go through with the pregnancy, we are labeled as abortion sluts.
We’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t!
Furthermore, a woman’s body may not be ready to handle the effects of another pregnancy. She may not have the financial ability to take care of a child (in which case adoption could be an option). She may not be mentally stable enough to go through with a pregnancy. Some of you may be thinking, “Well she shouldn’t have gotten pregnant”. This is the sentiment of some Black women. And I understand where you’re coming from. But this is a decision that you should have to make for your own body. If I were to come along and force you to give birth without your consent, how would you feel? This is the experience of our Great Great Grandmothers.
On plantations, many of them were raped and forced to give birth over and over again against their will. These rapes, along with the forced child births, wreaked havoc on their bodies and spirits. We know live under different circumstances. Fortunately, we can now determine for ourselves. This is why I am reluctant to fully support the efforts of the Radiance Foundation and Georgia’s Operation Outrage. I do not wish to teeter between the lines of force and choice. I will always be for choice.
However, I do agree with them in that choices should always be made in conjunction with full knowledge of what we are doing, so that we make the correct decisions for our lives. Abortion is not always the best choice. There are black women experiencing medical problems, mental anxiety, and depression in conjunction with the abortion/s they had. This is a decision that should not be taken lightly and should be accompanied with knowledge in order to prevent this from happening.
I also support their efforts to encourage adoption in the Black community. I find that we get upset about white people adopting black children yet we do not take on the obligation to take care of these children ourselves.
Whew…that was a lot of writing! What do you think? Should black women stop getting abortions? Do you agree or disagree with the Radiance Foundation?
Love,
Jam-the-lbg
afrospear.wordpress.com 
excellent article…. the statistics are so horribly skewed that it’s difficult to consider anything EXCEPT a lopsided attack against the black community… While there may be other factors in a woman’s abortion decision, it’s painfully clear that empowering a woman to have a child despite difficulties is not the goal of Planned Parenthood, most especially among black women. I wonder how much of a coincidence it is that Margaret Sanger, their founder, was part of the eugenics movement….
Thank you for sharing my article. Abortion is an issue that needs to be discussed and given deep thought in our communities. I hope that this article promotes awareness and conversation, even if we do not all agree. I appreciate any feedback and all comments.
An article forwarded by from TheLoop21.com:
“The real economic death in the debate on Black abortion”
I think Black women should be encouraged to use birth control, so there would be less unintended pregnancies. Black women need the time to develop themselves, finish high school, community college or college and learn to be self sufficient before thinking of having a child. A lot of messages Black women get is tied to their sexuality instead of their self worth. One of those messages is that they have to be keepers of the Black race, which usually comes out of the mouth of the Black male. It would not be an issue of if enough Black babies are born, if Black men would step up and take responsibility. Some of the pathology of having “his baby” might possibly end, if there were confidence that the relationship could become permanent. If that would happen there would be enough time to bring children into the relationship.
I also think that some of the data is skewed which seem to imply that Black women are having a larger percentage of abortions. There are many white women who use private funds and doctors in which their statistics would not show up. A DNC may or may not be an abortion, how would that be reported to a health insurance company and would race be also reported.
This is an excellent article and excellent analysis. I’ve been thankful that I’ve never been in a position to have to make a choice or even think about abortion. I have one son who’s 28 years old.
But having read this article, I must say that you’ve opened my mind to the ramifications of our choice one way or the other.
The issue certainly is not as simple as “black women should never have abortions” or “black women should have the right to choose”
As for how they label us whichever way we go in this issue, that’s easier. We have to move forward doing whats best for each of us, in spite of what labels they give us, because as you said, we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.
Thanks for opening my eyes!
I would encourage you get a copy of the documentary Maafa21 Black Genocide in 21st Century America. – they make some of the same points plus MUCH more – preview Maafa21 here: http://www.maafa21.com
This is all well and good, but only 52% of black women are married and given that sad statistic black women should have the absolute control of her reproduction and child bearing and if that includes abortion so be it. I get sick of the word genocide being bandied about. If we want to attack the loss of black lives, stop forcing black unmarried woman to bear children who cannot afford to raise them on their own for the sake of the “race.” What black women need get is more access to birth control and better education. Rally for the easing of legal quagmire around adoption practices in this country and stay out of my lady parts!
I think your essay is interesting though I do take issue with some points.
One question I had regarding this campaign is why this message on billboards in a southern state? I did a little research into The Radiance Foundation and too many abortions.com. Both strike me as conservative leaning Christian organizations which often have tremendous appeal to black people and in my opinion work to undermine our community through veiled message of hate for gays, immigrants, and the poor. This may not bother some but I find it problematic.
I think what is needed more open and honest discourse about sex and sexuality in the black community. I think this would offer black kids the tools to better deal with sexuality as teens and adult. Our children deserve the opportunity to re-conceptualize the prevailing images of our young people and their bodies. As adults we have a responsibility to assist young people in this process but only if we are willing to have frank discussions about sex.
I don’t think we need to discuss eugenics consider as a source to recognize that there is work to be done to change the paradigms that facilitate poor choices regarding sex.
Planned Parenthood is not the organization Sanger started. I am familiar with their work and I think they provide an important service. I am grateful for the information you provided about her history. She is touted as a feminist hero and that is problematic. I know the next time someone mentions Margaret Sanger as a hero I will inform them of her actions.
I find it ironic that black families ‘adopt’ their own and have practically created the concept of the extended family but don’t see adoption as a continuation of that cultural practice.
I don’t think that abortion should be about race. It is about a woman’s right to choose, which shouldn’t hinge on placing guilt upon black women via the genocide argument. Smacks of black male privilege and patriarchy to me. It needs to stop.
To me, the question is not whether black women (or any other women) should stop getting abortions. The real question(s) are:
*should women have unprotected sex outside of a committed, longterm relationship
*should women use abortion as birth control
*should women have babies to boost their self esteem, or should they have them when and only when they are mature and clear that they have something to offer the child emotionally, spiritually, etc.
Personally, having been with women who aborted children of mine, I would never want to go through that again…and I do believe that a woman’s body is her own and she has a right to do with it what she will.
Lubangakene, great questions! It’s about responsibility and accountability when it comes to creating and nurturing life!
I believe that those of us who are able should advocate and provide a voice for the most vulnerable in our society. Who is more vulnerable or voiceless and therefore easier to discard than an unborn child?
I don’t see this issue as an “either/or” propositon: the rights of a woman over her body vs. the right to life of an unborn child. However we can start viewing these issues through the lens of your questions to work towards life and rights affirming solutions.
Abortions kills more blacks than cancer, heart decease and AIDs combined. One out of every 2 black babies are killed through abortion. Lets loose our bias and try to work to save the lives of our innocent children. See Maafa21 on youtube it will completely change your way of thinking.
These billboards are nothing more but a scare tactic ploy used by conservative propagandists. They love to use fear to force people to convert to their brand of religion and way of thinking.
For all their talk about values, conservatives could care less about black children being raised in poverty and they are the main ones complaining about black people getting welfare (conservative politicians are usually the very wealthy elite bought off by corporations but use religion as a means to get votes so they can push their corporate agendas through in Washington), and want social services cut, yet they want to tell people not to get abortions. Give me a break!
Conservatives [claim to] love fetuses but don’t care about them when they actually get here–particularly if those fetuses become babies of poor black women.
I get tired of this paranoid, conspiracy talk that there is a genocide against the black community through abortion. There is so much self-hatred that we are killing ourselves and our children off (though violence, obesity, diabetes, poor diets and unhealthy lifestyles, and the spreading HIV/AIDS to each other) that an active genocide against black people in America isn’t necessary. We do a great job of killing off the black community on our own without abortion. Anyway…
First of all, abortion is legal and women of all races have access to getting them given they have the money to pay for the procedure. Black women aren’t encouraged anymore than any other race of women to get abortions. That is evident in the fact that black women are popping out babies left and right. I’m sure that white women get abortions way more than black women do. Black people are more religious than white people, therefore black women are more likely to keep–often due to family pressure not abort–an unplanned pregnancy. Though things are changing, when white women get pregnant young, they either get abortions or give their babies up for adoption.
Second of all, I support a woman’s right to get an abortion regardless of race. My personal religious beliefs aside, it’s not my place to tell any woman what to do with her body, and for all those people who tell women not to abort, are they going to help financially support that kid? The answer is a resounding NOPE!
It’s a shame that black women are constantly encouraged to have babies when we all know for a fact that black women get the LEAST SUPPORT when it comes to raising and financially supporting children. We know black men don’t like supporting their kids. Black women need to practice birth control, safe sex, and stop having babies by deadbeat black guys who won’t or can’t help them. Black women would be a lot better off for it.
Black women can’t get ahead in life for having babies they can’t afford.