Rebooting.

And still so very tired of this shit.

Greetings, y’all!

Longtime readers of the AngryBlackBitch blog have probably been wondering where the hell I’ve been. Well, let’s just say life has gotten intense and complicated. I’ve been on the front lines of the fight for reproductive justice. I co-founded Reproaction, a left-flank culture change organization with deep chops in strategic communications, fearless opposition research, and community organizing. After five amazing years, I left to become executive director of Medical Students for Choice, a global non-profit organized to support future abortion care providers and advocate for reproductive justice globally. And that’s where I’ve been doing the work, through the Dobbs leak … and the Dobbs decision … through months of post-devastation triage to make sure abortion bans don’t result in a lack of providers … all the while sharing with anyone who would listen that now is the time to apply the reproductive justice framework.

Sigh.

The only thing moderates hate more than accountability is ceding leadership and power to Black folk and people of color. Despite their fondness for radical propaganda on buttons and t-shirts, the mainstream reproductive health and rights movement has an aversion to change even in the aftermath of monumental loss.

*** blink … sip fruit juice … continue ***

Some background.

Advocates in several states are advancing ballot initiatives to add abortion rights to state constitutions. Similar measures have passed with overwhelming support in states like Michigan and Ohio. The devil always wants to dance in the details, so some of these measures contains restrictive language culled from the corpse of Roe v Wade. Language like “viability” has been a burden for decades, but give a coalition some polling and watch how fast stank becomes perfume.  

Anyhoo, you can read more about why the details matter when it comes to the language of ballot measures here, here, here, and here.

All I Want for Black History Month is to Win through the Reproductive Justice Framework …

I don’t need to be acknowledged or honored, thanked or praised. I know who I am, I love the hell out of myself, and I’m cool that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.

The fact is that if the movement for reproductive health and rights enshrines Roe into state constitutions …

1. Many people will struggle to find care after the arbitrary time limits state legislatures will apply using viability.

2. Young folk will still face laws that limit access to care.

3. Poor and working- class folk will still lack insurance coverage for care.

4. And … once the comfortable majority no longer face bans and hurdles, and the middle class suburban white women who resent having a forage a bit for abortion pills are once again able to rely on easy access … once that’s all settled, the same movement for reproductive health and rights that chose the path of gradualism will then … wait for it … point to fucking polling to justify not supporting campaigns to get abortion access for everyone their viability laden policy leaves behind.

I can’t think of a single instance in history where gradualism to secure rights for some has resulted in those folks turning around to secure rights for those they initially left behind. More importantly, no one has articulated interest much less a plan to do that in states advancing ballot measures.

Voters have overwhelmingly voted for abortion rights. They aren’t voting for abortion rights with viability limits. Most people couldn’t tell you what the hell that even means. Voters in multiple states have been bombarded by anti-abortion messaging claiming ballot measures will allow unrestricted access to abortion … and they’ve voted for that shit in record numbers every single time.

Why are abortion activists afraid to fight for abortion access?

I mean, shit.

All I want is for people and organizations that claim to honor the reproductive justice framework to freaking honor the reproductive justice framework by using it.

Center those most impacted by reproductive oppression.

Step the hell back and let Black folk and people of color lead.

Fund the hell out of our work the way some of y’all have been funding losing strategies built on compromise and appeasement for years.

Don’t just say it.

Do it.

We’ve had decades of losing for fear of winning.

Aren’t y’all tired yet?

Because the people are ready to win. Organize accordingly or they will rightly demand accountability.