In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda
In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national-state partnership focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national and regional levels in our fight to secure Reproductive Justice for all women, femmes, and girls. Our eight strategic partners are Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.
Abortion Access
Access to abortion care cannot be separated from other human and reproductive rights. We trust Black women to make the important personal decisions that are best for themselves and their families. We support access to abortion care, including having insurance coverage, so every woman – regardless of her income – can access affordable and safe abortion care when she needs it.
COVID-19
African Americans face disproportionately high COVID-19 death rates and are more likely to live in areas experiencing outbreaks. Because Black women are more likely to be in front-line jobs deemed ‘essential,’ and are also less likely to be able to work from home than white workers, many are being forced to risk their own lives, and the health of their family, just to earn a living. Data reported by the CDC confirms that Black people are five times more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID. Congress must pass COVID-19 relief legislation that includes providing funding for childcare for “essential” workers, flexible funding for state and local jurisdictions to support small businesses, support schools opening safely and funding to help families avoid financial hardship and evictions.
Clean Water
Millions of individuals living in the United States face the daily reality of exposure to contaminated water sources that present serious risks to reproductive and overall health. A 2018 poll from Intersections of Our Lives, highlighted that 70 percent of Black women polled believe that all families should have access to clean water, and it should be a priority for elected officials. Unsafe water sources can interfere with people’s reproductive health by increasing the chances of experiencing infertility or jeopardizing a person’s ability to have a healthy pregnancy. We believe that every individuals has the human right to clean safe water.
Economic Rights
While the average white woman is paid 70 cents for every dollar a man is paid, Black women are paid only 62 cents. Over time, Black women are underpaid close to $50 billion. These wage disparities exist at every income level and deprive Black families of financial security and opportunities for economic advancement. We support equal pay, living wages, and economic policies that ensure an opportunity for all people to achieve strong financial security for all people regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, and socio-economic status.
Racial Justice
We stand in unity with our sisters and brothers around the country who are marching and protesting against police brutality. We call for an end to state-sanctioned violence against Black people and demand equal justice under the law for all.
Healthcare Access
Millions of Black women and their families have gained access to affordable health care due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since its passage, the uninsured rate for women has nearly halved from 18 percent in 2008 to 11 percent in 2018. And while disparities in coverage still exist, women of color – who are more likely to be uninsured due to systemic inequities – have experienced particularly significant gains in health care coverage over the last decade. We reject any attempt to roll back health care coverage and protections, including eliminating coverage for pre-existing conditions, changes to Essential Benefits, and cuts to Medicaid or Medicare.
LGBTQ+ Liberation
The dual impact of systemic homophobia and racism can harm Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people. We support programs and policies that ensure Black LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, have the resources and the right to make healthy decisions about their lives, bodies, gender, and sexuality.
Maternal Health
The United States has the highest maternal death rate of all industrialized nations and is among the most dangerous places in the world to give birth. Black women in the U.S. are three to five times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than their white counterparts. This is not only a public health crisis but a moral one as well. We support Black women’s access to high-quality, affordable health care before, during, and after pregnancy as a critical component of our human rights.
Quality Education
School provides the stepping-stone to post- secondary education and employment opportunities later in life. Black girls are more likely to receive corporal punishment, be suspended, arrested, or referred to law enforcement than white girls. We support the right to achieve academic excellence in a safe, welcoming, and dignified environment, and reject zero tolerance policies that feed the School-to-Prison Pipeline. We support young Black girls receiving an education that prepares them for careers of their choosing and empowers them to feel that their lives are worthy.
Voting Rights
Black women are the largest voting constituency in the American electorate. Every year, we register voters, organize our communities, and deliver the votes that give so many local, state, and national politicians their jobs. We will continue to use the power of the ballot to elect those who understand our lived experiences, prioritize our interests, and respect our basic human rights. And we will hold elected officials accountable.
