Repealing Roe Vs Wade: The Ongoing Policing of Black Bodies
Since Black Women have been in America, our bodies have not belonged to us. Our humanity was dismissed in order to make it acceptable to breed us like animals without getting to choose when we would give birth, or have a say in the one impregnating us.
We then were faced with forced sterilization and other gynecological practices that traumatized us, with the supposed benefits being for those who did not look like us.
Unfortunately, Black women are used to others believing that they have the right to make decisions about our bodies, and in doing so, our trauma,
and the overall trajectory of our lives
In our everyday decision-making, we never forget how decisions that are made do not take into consideration how they can harm us.
In our everyday choices, we never forget that legislation that is made does not care about Black women.
We know the meaning of trickle down
We live it
Our actions exist in the understanding that when harm happens to others, it can kill Black women
When legislation is proposed that focuses on decreasing personal agency, Black women are fully aware that the impact of this will be the greatest for them
Because our agency has never mattered
Yesterday, there was a leak of the alleged decision by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding repealing Roe Vs. Wade
Roe Vs. Wade has permitted those who give birth to have some agency over their bodies
To make decisions about terminating pregnancies based upon their own emotional, financial, physical needs
Repealing Roe under the guise of “returning decisions to the States”, is one step towards allowing those same States who have consistently demonstrated that they do not value the lives of Black people, women, LGBTQIA+ people, or others who have been historically marginalized to implement policies that will further oppress us
Black women know oppression
Black women live oppression
Black women and other Black people who give birth, will experience déjà vu around decisions again being made for them about their bodies
This is not about whether or not one chooses to get an abortion
It is about having the choice
Having the body autonomy
Something Black women have not had for most of our existence in the United States
For our community, this fight is worth having
This fight is about not allowing ourselves to continue down this slippery slope of taking away our right to the very bodies that we have been trying for centuries to attain
Dr. Tyffani is a licensed psychologist who centers the needs of Black Women and Girls in her work. She believes any fight that benefits Black women is one that she will enter. She is the co-founder of Centering Sisters and co-hosts its podcast. Subscribe to the Centering Sisters podcast on Youtube. Like both the Centering Sisters and the Dr. Tyffani Facebook pages.
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