Last week, a controversial billboard was placed in New York City, setting off a national firestorm and debate about abortion in the African American community. Why are our abortion rates higher than other groups? Why would the pro-life group place the billboard in that particular communty? It raises a lot of questions. We have Edward C. Lee and Gwen Jimmere ready to extend the conversation:
HIS VIEW:
By Edward C. Lee
Is there a war being waged against African American’s and we don’t even know it? By now many have heard of the controversial anti-abortion billboard that a group called Life Always, posted in Manhattan last week. It made headlines because shortly after the billboard went up, protests and controversy erupted and the billboard with the picture of a cute African American girl with the words, “The Most Dangerous Place for an African American is in the Womb,” above her head, was taken down.
It goes without saying that abortion is about as large a hot button issue as there is. But beyond the arguments for or against abortion, the controversy over this new ad campaign by African American anti-abortion groups brings a more specific issue to the forefront.
Are groups intentionally encouraging abortion in the African American community – to destroy or harm the “black family”?
That in part, is the claim of several pro-life groups and the reason behind the strategic placement of this particular ad in Manhattan, in close proximity to a Planned Parenthood facility. It was a sentiment that Catholic League president, Bill Donahue supported in a recent CNN article regarding the controversy, as he said, “Life Always says it wants to raise public awareness of Planned Parenthood’s war on black people. Good for them.”
Life Always board member Stephen Broden further highlighted their position regarding this attack on African Americans by expressing the difficulty of celebrating Black History month while the abortion rate among African Americans is so high.
The typical causes of the extremely high abortion rate proffered in the African American community are related to an overall lack of resources and services. But in light of this new campaign to raise awareness and bring to light this alleged “war” on Black America, do you think there is a more intentional agenda to wipe out the our families in the works here? Read the full CNN article here.
Edward is an Ordained Minister, host of the blog: elevateyourmarriage.com and Author of two first of their kind marriage books, Husbands, Wives, God: Introducing the Marriages of the Bible to Your Marriage and his new book, Husbands, Wives, God – Weekly Devotions: 52 Weeks of Relationship Enriching Devotions. Follow Edward on his blog or on Facebook at Husbands, Wives, God.
HER VIEW:
by Gwen Jimmere
Last Wednesday, while preparing my son for an outing, I received a picture on my phone from a good friend who resides in NYC. As I glanced at the phone, I was forced to do a double take. The startling image was taken by my friend on the corner of 6th Avenue and Watts Street in Soho.
I found myself taking instant offense at this billboard above. At first, I thought perhaps this was some photoshopped image she found online, then quickly called her in hopes of proving myself correct. She indicated this was definitely live in living color on the streets of New York.
Upon further research, this three story anti-abortion ad is being sponsored by pro-life group, Life Always, the leader of which is 58-year-old, Dallas-based, African American pastor Stephen Broden, who was the Republican political candidate for the state of Texas just last year. (Broden lost to Democratic candidate Eddie Bernice Johnson.)
The website listed on the billboard takes one to a site where Planned Parenthood is being targeted for being the largest provider of abortions across the country, performing over 300,000 per year. (Ironically, just last Friday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill to cut an estimated $75 million in federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Should the bill pass through the Senate and get signed into law, Planned Parenthood would lose all its federal funding now and in the future. Coincidence?)
Now, for the record, I am not proposing a pro-life or pro-choice stance on this matter. I am sure we can all agree that abortion is extremely undesirable, no matter which position you take. I am equally positive that if we look at the statistics as reported, we can come to the consensus that African Americans indeed have the highest rate of abortions in America. So, the question is not whether or not this is factual or not. This is purely about the manner in which the message is being delivered.
As an African American, I take great offense at this. Knowing a fellow black person is behind it doesn’t help. And the fact that this was strategically placed in a predominately white area makes no sense to me. If the goal is to get African Americans to stop having abortions, why place this in an area where the majority of people who see it aren’t even those you are hoping to get the message across to ““ that is, unless you’re simply attempting to drum up national publicity?
As a mother, I find this sort of thing to be necessary, albeit a bit extreme. To suggest that “the most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb” negates the challenges black children encounter daily across this country. However, with a 2009 reported African American abortion statistic of 59.8% in NYC, it is quite obvious that this is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.
Once I gathered all the facts, I became torn. Prior to becoming a mother, I likely would have sided with the notion that this billboard is taking it way too far. That I felt humiliated as a black woman and that this pastor had a vendetta against my kind. Now, I’m not so sure. So I pose this question to the BMWK family:
What’s your take? Is this a socially and culturally relevant right step toward eradicating what some might see as self-inflicted genocide? Or are there more conservative and effective ways to get the message across?
Gwen Jimmere is an award-winning and nationally syndicated editor who authored the relationship manual for young women, If It Walks Like a Duck”...and Other Truths My Mother Taught Me. She blogs about relationships, dating, marriage and parenting at The Duck Walk and works in social media/digital marketing for a Fortune 10 company.
Whats your take? Is this a socially and culturally relevant right step toward eradicating what some might see as self-inflicted genocide? Or are there more conservative and effective ways to get the message across?
My reply:
Let me first state that I am strongly a Liberal/ Independent and strongly Pro-Choice. It is unacceptable for a democracy and world leader to dictate to women what to do with our bodies. This entire incident is racio- misogyny at its best. 100 million thumbs down!
I too, find their marketing practices to be insensitive and dirty BUT our constitution protects freedom of speech. Censorship is a DANGEROUS practice in and of its self. I believe the best strategy for countering such sewerage is websites like this: more of us in real life and online must work hard to offer alternative perspectives.
Also, I have a problem with the idea or assumption that the “message†needs to get across. I would like all of these conservative religious groups who are so opposed to abortion to produce reports to the public about how many black children they were able to find permanent adoptive homes for. And, since this opponent these days seems to be black conservative men, Id like to see them submit reports to the public about how many black men are foster parenting or adopting children. I find it to be hypocritical that these forced birthers claim to care so much about life but are the first to cut funding for programs to help these mothers. RIGHT now, the majority of our states are in the RED, and many children ARE ALREADY suffering.
Finally, considering the gender war that is transpiring between our ethnic group-Im frankly APPALLED that a black conservative man would say ANYTHING about black women who are forced to terminate their pregnancy because they have NO HUSBAND: Translation: no protector, no provider, and no helper for THEIR child. The expectation that black women must struggle, suffer, and raise children ALONE is unacceptable. Abortion is NOT killing our ethnic group: lack of self love and ethnic self-respect manifested in the sordid gender relations and the disappearance of marriage IS.
Respectfully
I Believe In Standing In Truth
You said everything I would have wanted to say and more! You summed up why I’m pro-choice. Our DFCS system is too sub-par to suggest adoption as the best solution and repubs are cutting programs that help these children. These billboards are nothing but another shaming tactic.
Yes, I too agree with your views. I have had a few abortions in my life time and I can attest to the various circumstances that leads a woman to decide to have one done. Before walking in that clinic you are met with men and women damning you. The governments cut everything that has substance in keeping communities strong. How can these people care about what is happening to black families.
So no, abortion is not killing a race. Being against something that does not affect you is killing the chances that others want to make.
Whats your take? Is this a socially and culturally relevant right step toward eradicating what some might see as self-inflicted genocide? Or are there more conservative and effective ways to get the message across?
My reply:
Let me first state that I am strongly a Liberal/ Independent and strongly Pro-Choice. It is unacceptable for a democracy and world leader to dictate to women what to do with our bodies. This entire incident is racio- misogyny at its best. 100 million thumbs down!
I too, find their marketing practices to be insensitive and dirty BUT our constitution protects freedom of speech. Censorship is a DANGEROUS practice in and of its self. I believe the best strategy for countering such sewerage is websites like this: more of us in real life and online must work hard to offer alternative perspectives.
Also, I have a problem with the idea or assumption that the “message†needs to get across. I would like all of these conservative religious groups who are so opposed to abortion to produce reports to the public about how many black children they were able to find permanent adoptive homes for. And, since this opponent these days seems to be black conservative men, Id like to see them submit reports to the public about how many black men are foster parenting or adopting children. I find it to be hypocritical that these forced birthers claim to care so much about life but are the first to cut funding for programs to help these mothers. RIGHT now, the majority of our states are in the RED, and many children ARE ALREADY suffering.
Finally, considering the gender war that is transpiring between our ethnic group-Im frankly APPALLED that a black conservative man would say ANYTHING about black women who are forced to terminate their pregnancy because they have NO HUSBAND: Translation: no protector, no provider, and no helper for THEIR child. The expectation that black women must struggle, suffer, and raise children ALONE is unacceptable. Abortion is NOT killing our ethnic group: lack of self love and ethnic self-respect manifested in the sordid gender relations and the disappearance of marriage IS.
Respectfully
I Believe In Standing In Truth
*Whats your take? -the conversation NEEDS to be had. However it is sparked is just a sign of the times. Polite conversation in America is dead & buried. Hence the HIGHLY rated FOX news channel.
*Is this a socially and culturally relevant right step toward eradicating what some might see as self-inflicted genocide? -Eradicating is a bit strong. But in speaking to my daughter (22) and noticing the UP-Tick in her un-wed single parent female friends living at home with there single parent. I am worried. Having a child for ‘some’ young Nubian females seems to have become the New Right-of-Passage for SOME middle to low-income females.
*Or are there more conservative and effective ways to get the message across? -i don’t think so? While I am NOT a ‘regular Church goer. I can not remember a sermon about abortion. Tithing YES!
While my initial reaction is to be appalled. It did spark a New-Old conversation with my Son (16) & Daughter. About being respected. Respecting yourself. Having goals & plans for your future and WHY is it that after having a child some young women & men (i married my wife 1yr after my daughter was born 21yrs ago, Full Disclosure) finally get there Sh*t together?
While the actual numbers are of course skewed. Anything done through a government funded agency must be reported to said government. Private doctors visits are not reported with the same vigor. Hence the most needy. The poor and undeserved will always have much higher numbers than someone that is capable of paying cash or already has private insurance.
I’m glad that were having the conversation and not just on the web! But within our respective homes with the Males & Females that we LOVE.
I’m going to approach this question of Is There a War Against African-American Families a bit different – so please bear with me.
I’m not sure if it’s just me, but is this a trick question? When I check the “game film” of life there’s always been a war against African-American Families. On the shores of Jamestown, Va. in the 17th century slavesowners in a public square (sounds like Soho Manhattan to me) separated husband from wife and father from church through the use of tyranny (family disrupted if not destroyed).
Then look at the brothers who fought in the civil war hoping to be able to come home and care for the families, but unable to find work because they were still thought to be niggers (family disrupted if not destroyed). Or what about the black family destroyed when a husband — in a public square (wow this sounds a lot like Manhattan) — hangs dead at the end of a rope. Or what about a Social Services system created by Pres. Roosevelt that tells a woman, whose husband can’t find work because there is a system in place that won’t hire him, that we’ll give you Aid to care for your family, but you can’t have a man living in your house (further disruption and destruction of the black family). And I can continue, but won’t with modern day disruption, but won’t.
My real question isn’t what they are doing, this to include the “uncle Tom” cause there’s always is one (Master is we sick said Malcolm in a speech), but what are we doing. We want to regulate this to “Pro Choice” or “Pro Life” when somebody needs to ask the “Real” question, why are 72% percent of African American children born into wedlock – this seems like “Bad choice” and this is coming from a dude who had two children out-of-wedlock. I made bad choices (but I rasied both my children as a single dad).
If we have 72% of our children born out of wedlock and another 58 or 59% percent of women having abortion isn’t the issue BIGGER than more than some sign hanging on a wall in Soho or am I missing it.
Where are the elders (that’s you reading that story and this post)? Are we incarcerated by the walls of the church (and I am a born again baptist believing, bible discipline, in church most Sunday’s and a few other days of the week) that we can’t move beyond the church to establish programs to tide this tsumani of “IRRESPONSIBLE PREGNANCIES.” Are we incarcerated by our careers (we are making it happen so we don’t have time to be concerned about our neighbors)?
Last week my wife and I facilitated 2 love and relationship workshops to college students (primarily African American college students). Those students were engaging, and hungry to learn about making “Wise Choices” so that they could live out the creed of a “Pro (fabulous) Life.” During one of the workshops one brother left in the midst of the workshop and that troubled me. But about 7 minutes later he returned with two of his boys. He told me after the workshop they needed to hear the information. Wow!
After the workshop the students did not want to go to their next class but they wanted to soak up more information about making wise choices. How humbling those 18, 19 and 20 year-old made me feel.
Yes there is a war on African-American families and the truth of the matter is in too many instances we (African-Americans) are soldiers contributing to the casualites. We yell and complain and blame and scream “Pro Choice” or “Pro Life,” when we should be tithing our talents as contributions. Our absences is just as egregious as the brother who is responsible for putting up the billboard in Soho.
In football a team studies the game film to discover the tendacies of their opponent. They then implement an attack to counter those tendacies. And what are we doing?
We all can take a page from Lamar and Ronnie and get up and do something to change the condition of our situation.
Peace – Just my 10cents
http://www.ruleyourwife316.com
Thank You, Sir!
You are welcome and I thank you for your response and transparency. We gotta be more vigliant.
I almost want to run your comment as another post! Thank you Reggie for your story – perhaps we can hear more about that workshop….?
No doubt Tara. You lead me and I will follow on your direction.
Bravo Reggie!! You expressed my feelings so eloquently!!! It makes me feel good to know that you and Peachie are doing great work in our community to help us make better choices and to have better relationships!!!
Reg – I know you love a good discussion and will take my request for clarification in stride and in the spirit of love it is given.
Are you for or against the billboard? Your post is an excellent, concise, brief of the history of this issue – that leads me toward – Yes there is a (continuing) War going on. But then at the end you cite the guy who hung the banner as making an egregious error. I am just curious as to what his error is? From his POV he might say he is “getting up and doing something” by exposing or keeping the exposure on what he considers to be a serious issue for the African American community.
Ed I was ranting a little and not on you. As a mater of fact when I was writing neither you nor the Gwen entered my thoughts. I wasn’t replying to anything either of you wrote.
What’s being done to us is what I always hear too often, so my rant was at the mindset “of someone doing something to us” rather than your question. Also as it relates to the sign – again my issues wasn’t at that writing with or against the sign, but the mindset that we can have such brokenness in our community and folk become upset when a sign is erected. The startling #s (out-of-wedlock birthrates and yes the % of abortions) should be what folk are alarmed about.
Now as for the sign – I don’t like it at all, not one bit. I don’t know that brother or his spirit (other than his a pro life activist), but somewhere in his attempt to do something it seems as if he’s application is wrong. Placement (why Soho) – doesn’t make sense. Imaginery (what’s up with the use of the little girl) – troubling to me. It has the feel of a 21st lynching to me. And since this brother is a pastor I need for someone a little more fluid in God’s word thann I to show me where God would use that approach. He appears that he’s taking this terrible situation and using it as a mean to elevate Pastor Broden. Appears to me he is leading according to his will oppose to His will. So with that, yes there is a war on the A.A. family and Judas may still be in the house.
Reg – I knew you weren’t talking about the author’s. I am just shocked that it appears that the black community sees this group as in the wrong – to run the ad campaign. Whether one agrees with their stance on abortion or not, the bigger question to me is, is it true that groups are intentionally aiming at our community. If so, then I would think the exposure would be a good thing. I think we are saying the same thing – the numbers themselves not the sign should be the concern. And that is why I lean to saying the exposure is a good thing. Hey it got two busy brothers to talk about it on a Wednesday afternoon…
Personally, it has caused me to go back and look at the “Negro Project” of the 1930’s which was originated by Mary Sanger the founder of what eventually became called Planned Parenthood. In those documents the idea was to use abortion to wipe out the “Negro” community.
I guess I am admitting that I did not know about nor think about the specifics or reality of the black abortion rate until last week’s exposure – so I guess it worked on me. LOL. Be Blessed.
Whatever the intent behind it, I take offense to the sign. “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the Womb” just doesn’t sit right with me as an African American mother and I think the author of this is in a way only contributing to the “war against African American communities” in drawing negative attention to African American parents by equating a Black woman’s womb to a death trap of some sort. If he wanted to put up a pro-life message I just think there were better ways to do it.
In my own experience as well, Planned Parenthood does not exist for the sole purpose of being an abortion clinic. I am not ashamed to admit that I had to go there myself for basic health services when I found myself laid off and uninsured. They also provide low cost birth control. They provide many services outside of pregnancy termination and I think its a shame that the organization is being villified in this way when there are so many services they provide that are needed in the areas where they exist.
Finally I think that we have to take these statistics with a grain of salt. I am no researcher, and do not claim to know this for a fact, but in talking to a health official once learned that places that perform abortions for low-income populations are likely to do much more reporting of those rates than those that are performed by private doctors, skewing the data.
I would encourage you both to watch the film- Maafa21 before any conclusions. This film spells out the evil genocidal PROOF. See here https://www.maafa21.com
Maafa21, the film, Educated me about Planned Parenthood’s history and original intent.
I’ve always been Pro-choice, but now I’m not sure. The attack on the Black family is very real.
Anyone who knows the history behind Planned Parenthood, and Margaret Sanger would understand. Indeed, the attack on the Black family is a reality. Time for many within our community to WAKE UP!!! Abortion is murder, full stop.