Black Women Need Abortion Rights

Black women would be the biggest losers of all if Roe v. Wade were to be over turned. In this week's Black Agenda Report, I make the case that black people must stop being shy about sex, and afraid of religiosity. Abortion and reproductive rights are an essential part of American civil rights law, and we shouldn't be squeamish about saying so.

Also, we need to stop paying attention to people like Alveda King, a recipient of right wing think tank money. She is Dr. King's niece, and she uses her family name to advocate for the bad old days when abortion was illegal. The Christian right are now setting up "pregnancy crisis" centers in black neighborhoods, despite the fact that abortion doesn't rank very highly on the list of black Americans' concerns.

Unfortunately, that lack of concern is bad news. It means that the continuing onslaught against abortion rights does not get the approprite response from the people who would be most affected if Roe is overturned. Silence will be seen as consent and the days of the coat hanger will return.