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As August comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the many pivotal moments in civil rights history that have transpired during this month, including the women’s suffrage movement, signing of the Voting Rights Act and the March on Washington. This weekend will mark the 60th anniversary of the March, and I, along with more than 25 Black women, will be coming together across movements to speak up for fair employment, economic justice, voting rights, education, and civil rights protections. We are strong, unified, and ready to support each other in the fight for Reproductive Justice as a human right.
Black women’s participation was crucial for the original March on Washington, sparking future activism for both racial and gender equality over generations— even as they had to fight to speak during the program despite our historic role in the larger movement. Black women will never stop standing up for ourselves. We have always been honest and forthright in our activism, even if it offends tradition. My new column, Outspoken, will be a space to do just that as part of that legacy.
During ESSENCE Fest in New Orleans last month, we hosted an “I am a Reproductive Justice Voter” activation in the community corner and the response was overwhelming. Thousands of visitors came through and we spoke to them about the importance of Reproductive Justice and the power of centering it when we head to the polls.
I am energized. I am hopeful, and I am ready to continue to lift up the voices of Black women leaders across the country to secure Reproductive Justice for all women, girls and gender-expansive individuals. If you need a reason to point to as to why this matters, just look at what’s happened at the Supreme Court. Amid a series of Supreme Court decisions seeking to legitimize discrimination and stifle the freedom of Black women, girls and gender-expansive people, we marked one year without Roe v. Wade and are still uncovering the impact of the ruling on the health, well-being and dignity of communities across the U.S.
Reproductive justice – a vibrant and celebrated picture of our multi-faceted human experience - can only be achieved when we have the full right to control our bodies and our futures. That’s why we are committed to protecting and fighting for our rights that are being systematically stripped away day by day.
I am ignited with a multitude of emotions when I witness what’s happening to Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people in this country. We are continuing to die at higher rates during pregnancy and our freedom to create, to love, to teach and to learn are under attack. The fight for our ideas and our history is critical to the fight for our lives.
Everything we have fought for is at stake.
So what’s next? Simply put, we continue to lead. Alongside over 50 partners and advocates, we released our Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda in June, which provides a blueprint for policymakers to implement the changes that advance our health, wellbeing, and more. Reproductive Justice is about our right to have children on our own terms, the ability to give birth to as many healthy babies as we want, to parent those children in safe communities, and to fully express our sexuality. If you haven’t had the chance to read our 2023 policy agenda yet, be sure to click on the link to learn more about our collective vision.
Advocating for lifesaving, meaningful policies is just one part of our strategy. Through our National-State Partnership, we engage reproductive justice voters where they are and mobilize our political power at the ballot box. 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 hold them accountable.
Because if we are all Outspoken, they will listen. It’s impossible to deny that Black women are once again pioneering the fight back against efforts to constrain our lives, our health, and the well-being of our communities. Our movement is strong, and we are ready for whatever lies ahead. But we can’t do it alone. I hope I can count on you to stand with us.
In Solidarity,
Regina Davis Moss, President & CEO
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