Get Email Updates

Sign Up

Give

Donate

Em-URGE-ing Voices

Your urgent thoughts, urging action

#BlackGirlMagic at the In Our Own Voice Conference

Posted by Monica Edwards

October 1, 2018

Hey fam!! My name is Monica and I’m the new If/When/How Policy Fellow here at URGE!

Source- @sistersmovie via giphy

On September 24, 2018, I attended In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda’s summit here in DC. Every second, every minute, every hour was amazing. Coming from a strong, Black, Southern, and, frankly, woman-empowering family, I definitely experienced feeling as if my voice was important, which in some families can be rare. Despite coming from that family and being a part of social justice organizations both in college and law school, there was still times where I felt my specific voice as a Black woman and my experiences were not centered. Often times Black women, and other women of color, join movements and organizations, however, those organizations don’t always recognize the intersecting identities of its members. Black power is great! Ending police brutality is great! Ending racism against Black and brown people is great… but at the end of the day what other identities and issues are you recognizing and centering?

Source- @Identity via giphy

Far too often women of color join movements and organizations to fight for “larger causes,” only to have the issues that specifically affect them and their voices silenced. But, in this summit, I felt centered as a Black woman. From panels discussing abortion, Title X, and the ACA, to voter engagement and more, I had the opportunity to listen to Black women who are doing the work in grassroots organizations to center issues affecting Black women in the reproductive justice movement. Sadly, many confuse the reproductive justice movement with the larger feminist and reproductive rights movements. Reproductive Justice (or RJ) was started by, and has always been led by, Black women. It is all-encompassing and intersecting with other issues that are often seen as isolated. From abortion and birth control access, to the school to prison pipeline, mass incarceration, police brutality, intimate partner violence, LGBTQ rights, immigration etc. RJ is a framework that brilliantly and unapologetically realizes and discusses how all of these issues connect to one another.

Source- hbo.com via giphy

Starting my work here at URGE, it was a breath of fresh air that intersectionality is key, and that I could be myself, unapologetically. This summit was like the icing on the cake. I got to hear from Black women who have been doing the work for years such as Cherisse Scott from SisterReach in Memphis, TN, Mimi Spalding from Planned Parenthood, Dr. Krystal Redman from Spark Reproductive Justice Now in Atlanta, GA, Cici Battle from Young People For, Jeryl Hayes from Physicians for Reproductive Health, Zerlina Maxwell of SiriusXM and many more amazing Black women who are truly centering and here for Black women. Too often women of color, especially Black women, have to subconsciously question others and their intentions within social justice movements…Sis, is she really here for me? Are they really checking for Black women though? At this summit, everyone was checking for Black women and I mean all Black women! Low-income Black women, middle-class Black women, Black women who are mothers or who are not mothers, queer Black women, educated and uneducated Black women, Black trans women, literally all Black women! I felt centered and empowered and more ready than ever to do the work.

Source- awwton.tumblr.com via giphy

Tags: reproductive justice

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

EmURGEing Voices

EmURGEing Voices is a blog series that highlights the views of young people on issues related Reproductive Justice and gender equity.

Read more about us.

Archives

Student Journalist Profiles

TyJae

Shakristal

Quasheba

Margaret

Makenna

J-Alex

Chancie

Annie

URGE

  • About
    • Mission & Values
    • Our History
    • About Our Name Change
    • Staff & Board
    • Job Opportunities
    • Contact Us
    • Media Center
      • Press Releases
      • In the News
  • The Issues
    • Real Abortion Access
    • Sexuality Education
    • Democracy Reform
    • Economic Justice
    • Decriminalize & Create Safe Communities
    • Immigrant Justice
  • Chapters
    • Find a Chapter
    • Chapter & CAN List
    • Start a chapter
  • Programs
    • Integrated Voter Engagement
    • Our Folks
    • Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute
    • Beyond Policing
    • Abortion Positive Tour
  • Resources
    • All
    • Issue Briefs
    • Factsheets
    • Report: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sex Ed
    • A Young People’s RJ Policy Agenda
    • 2020 Election Report
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
    • Major Gifts
    • Host an Event

Blog

Em-URGE-ing Voices

Get Email Updates

Sign Up Now!

Follow Us

Follow Us

  • About Us
  • Chapters
  • The Issues
  • Media Center
  • Get Involved
  • Contact Us

1012 14th Street NW, Suite 305 Washington, DC 20005

Toll Free 1 (888) 784-4494 Phone 1 (202) 965-7700 Fax 1 (202) 965-7701

© 2023 URGE All rights reserved.