Apr. 25, 2008 - Black pastors and activists protest Planned Parenthood's racism
Maggie Gallagher has written an excellent piece on the connection between Planned Parenthood and racism. Her article was prompted by investigative phone calls made by a group of young people to Planned Parenthood clinics around the country, similar to the calls that caused the underage girl scandal of a few years ago. The young man who made the calls asked if he could make donations to PP specifically to cover abortions for women of color. Most outrageous was the glee and excitement demonstrated by the women taking his calls, after he gave reasons that were plainly bigoted and racist ("There are too many black babies being born here in Ohio and I don't want affirmative action to take away my son's chances at college"). You would think that people interested in social justice would hang up the phone the minute they heard something like that, but instead the response was "Sure, we'll take you're money, and we'll be glad make the designation as you've requested!".
I have a huge pile of reasons to oppose abortion, but racism is certainly one of them, especially as I am the mother of children who society will view as "black" (though the more politically correct may call them "persons of color"). Margaret Sanger was undeniably racist and Planned Parenthood seems to be carrying her torch proudly into the future. My, she must be rolling over in her grave to see people like me--white girl married to a black man (Gasp! The horror!), having colored babies (Oh, the tragedy!), raising them in a highly religious environment. Oh, and we're "poor". Given her standards (Wiki looks pretty mild, more specific quotes can be found in an article HERE)for who should bear children and who should not, I'm fairly sure she would classify me as a "moron" who needed immediate sterilization.
HERE is another series of articles written by African Americans on the subject of abortion, racism, and what abortion has done to black culture.
Ironically, it is the left that is supposed to be most concerned with social justice and eradicating racism. They've dropped the ball on this one, and left it up to conservatives like me to thumb our noses at the idea that people of color are less brilliant, less capable, and less functional than upper class whites.
Here's to you, Margaret Sanger. Your legacy was about death. Mine is going to be life!
Comments
Apr. 25, 2008 - WOW
Posted by Katie in Ohio
I hadn't realized all this. Grrrrr. I have never been an ardent PP opposed having used free bc back in my presaved days and some free pregnancy tests when I just couldn't bear to pay money to hear "it's negative" again. Even in my college days, I never once saw any info on abortion in the PP offices; maybe I didn't look close enough?
BUT the race issue... hadn't thought about that. Definitely going to explore this topic since I am now part of a family of color. I am truly thankful that my kiddos' birthmoms didn't choose to abort them, even though it was strongly suggested to both.
More later
Apr. 25, 2008 - Katie...
Posted by cappuccinosmom
Maybe it depends on the clinic? I know the PP nearest us advertises as an abortion provider in the phone book.
Actually, there are several advertisements, one of which proudly proclaims they provide abortion up to 24 weeks. That's another whole post. :(
