abagond etc

February 9, 2012

"Many White reproductive activists cannot relate to the experiences of Black women. They have never had to fight for the right to be mothers, or fight for the right to keep their children off the auction block. Unless the reproduction of a woman of colour is directly sanctioned by Whiteness, it is deemed an irresponsible act. Such language continues to occur in discussions of so-called third world Brown and Black women. Mommy continues to be defined as White, middle/upper class, able bodied, straight, soccer mom in a mini van. Undocumented workers are routinely accused of having anchor babies to secure citizenship, but when this is played out in the media, they most certainly aren’t referring to the undocumented workers from countries that are considered White. They mean the dangerous Brown and Black wombs reproducing at will. Women of colour are construed as a project in need of being saved, as long as the process does not mean truly acknowledging the role that race and class have played in our continuing oppression. Innovations like the pill and Depo Provera, that have been touted as life saving, and important to the advancement of women’s rights, were tested on women of colour, long before they entered the precious bloodstreams of White women. Yet, this history is erased to praise the ability of women to control their reproductive process. Once again, advancement for women was carried on the backs of women of colour. Even as I am writing this, I wonder how many blogs dedicated to reproductive justice have ignored this story and its historical significance, because it would mean confronting the horrible truth that reproductive justice is about far more than access to birth control, the right to have an abortion and supporting Planned Parenthood; its about validating the idea that women, and by women I mean women of colour, have paid the brunt of the cost in terms of violation due to the intersection or racism and sexism."

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A Forced Eugenics Survivor Speaks Her Truth

This is why the pro-life movement’s sudden concern for Black fetuses and it’s recent focus on the Black community is laughable, insulting, hypocritical, and downright racist.

(via squeetothegee)

After the Cult of The Fetus targeted me for sharing my story about the abortion I noticed that many of the same people attacking me for making the choice that saved my life didn’t give a damn about my two existing children. Apparently my actual responsibilities as a mother stop as soon as a child leaves my womb alive. Then again I have two sons & we all know the value placed on the lives of young black men.

(via karnythia)

(Source: thetart, via )

8:00am | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZtI54yG7sSG7

(Notes: 870)