BAG Blogs
My Black Body Is My Own
By Cassandra Brown | October 30, 2024
The Historical Context: Control Over Black Bodies
Black women’s reproductive autonomy has long been under siege. From slavery, when our bodies were commodified for labor and reproduction, to forced sterilizations in the 20th century, efforts to control our bodies have been relentless. These practices were often justified under the guise of public health or moral imperatives but were deeply rooted in racist ideologies. They reinforced the belief that Black women should have no agency over their bodies, especially in terms of reproduction.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade and the implementation of abortion bans in states like Florida are modern extensions of these historical practices. These policies disproportionately affect Black women, stripping us of the right to make critical decisions about our reproductive health.
The Disproportionate Impact on Black Women
Black women in America face significant disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. We are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022). These maternal mortality rates are not just numbers—they represent Black mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends whose deaths could have been prevented with better access to healthcare and equitable treatment in medical settings.
Florida’s abortion ban only exacerbates these disparities. With fewer clinics, increased legal restrictions, and mounting fears of prosecution, Black women in Florida face even greater barriers to receiving the reproductive care they need. Research shows that restricted access to abortion services disproportionately impacts low-income women and women of color (Kavanaugh et al., 2021). These communities are often already grappling with systemic racism in healthcare, education, housing, and employment, making it harder to access essential services even in the absence of restrictive abortion laws.
Reproductive Justice as Racial Justice
Reproductive justice is more than just the right to have or not have a child. It encompasses the ability to raise children in a safe and supportive environment, free from systemic oppression. The fight for reproductive justice, which was coined by Black women activists, recognizes that
our reproductive choices are deeply influenced by the social, economic, and political conditions in which we live (Ross & Solinger, 2017).
When Black women lose access to abortion, it doesn’t just take away the choice of whether or not to continue a pregnancy—it limits our ability to control our futures. Many Black women already face barriers to adequate prenatal care, contraception, and general healthcare. Forcing pregnancy on us, in a system that already fails to protect our health, is not only cruel but dangerous.
A 2021 study found that states with the most restrictive abortion laws also tend to have the worst maternal health outcomes (Gerdts et al., 2021). This suggests that restrictive laws do not result in better health or moral outcomes—they result in more deaths, suffering, and inequality. For Black women, who already face heightened risks in pregnancy and childbirth, these laws are a death sentence.
The Economic Consequences of Abortion Bans for Black Women
Beyond the direct health impacts, abortion bans also have profound economic consequences. The ability to control one’s reproductive choices is tied to financial freedom. When women are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, they often experience long-term financial instability, which further entrenches them in poverty.
Black women already face economic disadvantages, earning less than both white women and men across the board. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), Black women earn only 64 cents for every dollar earned by white men. Restricting access to abortion further
undermines our economic security. It traps Black women in cycles of poverty that become even harder to escape, especially when raising children in unsupported environments.
A 2021 report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that lack of access to abortion contributes to higher rates of unemployment, lower wages, and reduced educational attainment for women (Foster et al., 2021). This is particularly damaging for Black women, who are already underrepresented in higher-paying industries and overrepresented in low-wage jobs.
Fighting Back: The Call for Reproductive Justice in Florida
We cannot afford to sit back and watch as our bodily autonomy is stripped away. We must demand policies that prioritize racial and reproductive justice—policies that ensure access to safe abortions, comprehensive reproductive healthcare, and protections against criminalization.
One avenue for hope is the advocacy happening on the ground. Organizations like the Black In Repro and SisterSong are fighting tirelessly to protect reproductive rights in the state and
nationwide. These groups understand that reproductive freedom is integral to racial justice and are mobilizing communities to demand change.
A Call for Collective Action
It is time for collective action. We must raise our voices, not only for the right to abortion but for the right to comprehensive reproductive justice that ensures Black women can make decisions about our bodies, our families, and our futures. This is not just a political issue—it is a moral imperative. Black women deserve the right to health, autonomy, and justice.
As I reflect on the legacies of those who came before me, I am reminded that Black women have always been at the forefront of struggles for justice. From Sojourner Truth to Angela Davis, we have fought for our right to exist freely in a world that seeks to control us. The fight for reproductive justice is no different.
We cannot let this moment pass us by. We must continue to organize, advocate, and educate, demanding that our rights be recognized and respected. Florida’s abortion ban is an attack on our bodies, but it is also a rallying cry for resistance. Together, we can fight back and reclaim our rights.
#Yeson4 #BAGTheVote #FloridaForAll
For more information contact:
Cassandra Brown, JD, MPH
Cofounder, Executive Director
All About the Ballots
cassieb@allabouttheballots.org
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Racial and ethnic disparities continue in pregnancy-related deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0919-pregnancy-related-deaths.html
Foster, D. G., Biggs, M. A., Ralph, L. J., Gerdts, C., Roberts, S. C. M., & Glymour, M. M. (2021). Socioeconomic outcomes of women who receive and women who are denied wanted abortions in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 111(12), 2229-2236. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306396
Gerdts, C., Vohra, D., & Aiken, A. R. A. (2021). Measuring women’s experiences with abortion: A synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research. Contraception, 104(6), 635-641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2021.08.001
Kavanaugh, M. L., Littlejohn, K. E., Schrager, S. M., & Thompson, T. A. (2021). Access to contraception and abortion services: The role of race and ethnicity in determining women’s reproductive autonomy. Contraception, 103(4), 213-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2021.01.007
Ross, L. J., & Solinger, R. (2017). Reproductive justice: An introduction. University of California Press.
#BAGTheVote #FloridaForAll #AllABouttheBallots #YesOn4
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