As we come to the close of Black History Month

So this months TV show in honor of Black History Month is about Black People that have made their mark in the reproductive justice movement. So while going over information for the show Brittany which is the guest for tonight brought up a good point about how we as people forget about black history as February ends and that we should continue to care about it and become educated on it. I had to totally agree with her on this one, we don't really realize the importance of knowing our history and I am a firm believer that in order to know where your going,you have to know where you have been. We as black people have a rich history and have been significant change makers since the beginning of our existence. I think it is very important for us to remember this and the more you learn about our history it will be easier to remember. So I just want to say Thank you to all my sisters and brothers that have made history and dared to be different, so I can have the rights I have.

War on Contraceptive Discussion

So I know I'm late blogging about this, but I'm blogging now. So Monday we had this discussion about the current state of access to contraceptives. Of course the sneaky anti-choice found out about it and showed up and they were on edge. So this is what I don't get about the anti-choice/"pro-life" people,they are suppose to be so much for life but fail to tend to the services of the actual living. Like for instance this lady had the nerve to ask do we go into these communities we service and tell them that they are at high risk for being single mothers and not finishing high school. I was really thrown off guard by this question because for one it had nothing to do with the topic at hand and also why remind the poor of their slim chances they have in life to be successful because of their economic situation. This was a very asinine thing to ask,so i thought, especially coming from a white privileged woman.This is the exact reason why I do the work that I do because I am poor myself for now and I don't need anyone reminding me of that and adding to my oppression because that's in fact what your doing when you tell a poor black girl that instead of giving her the information to keep her from being that statistic and giving her the support to believe that she can rise above her circumstances.

versus

In my hometown, Louisville, Kentucky-you're either a sports fan of  University of Kentucky  or University of Louisville.   If a U of L student wears a UK sweatshirt on U of L's campus: "They should have went to UK!"

The rivalry has broken up homes, pitted brother against brother and spouse against spouse. Not in the literal sense, but who ever wins the annual U of L/UK basketball game-wins big bets and most importantly bragging rights and reminders of how, "You´re team lost!" But, the sore loser will continually remind their foe of how the last time their team beat theirs, no matter how long ago it was.

The game between pro-life and pro-choice is not that simple and downright vicious at times.  An anti-choice protester at the door of the abortion clinic will use baby doll props, their own live children, Jesus pictures, statues of Mary and yell through a bullhorn to prove their point.

The anti-choice opposers will offer protection to the client as she enters the door.  But that´s only some of them, while the pro-lifers are trying to recruit the others of pro-choice to be on their team with a bible in hand or their own baby on their chest, hanging from a harness.

In the end, there are no losers or winners. But if their is a so-called winner, it is the woman who finds the way to do the best for her and/or her circumstances. But this decision could be unhealthy or deadly, depending on the means that are available.

"Abortion will not be stopped...the question becomes simply that of what kind of abortions society wants women to have," stated Shirley Chisholm, in her book: Unbought and Unbossed.  "clean, competent ones performed by licensed physicians or septic, dangerous ones done by incompetent practitioners."

It would be great if this debate was as simple as scoring points or getting personal fouls, but it is not. Unfortunately it seems in its current state of debate, there will never be "a side" that wins.

Contraceptives are starving the baby!!!

Wow the anti choicers have really done it this time. I mean who comes up with such ridiculous conclusions. The definition of contraceptive is to deliberately prevent conception or impregnation. So first of all you can't starve something that hasn't even been conceived. Secondly you can't starve a fetus. Like i said before I was having wishful thinking that people would stop being air heads, but I see that's all I can do for now and keep fighting the fight of choice.

Missed Connection

Last week the mayor of the third largest U.S. city closed branch libraries on Mondays and laid off 176 of its library staff! Literacy is a huge problem in Chicago (and nationally) and cutting off access to the possibility to be or become more literate is going to make this city worse.

People are already limited on resources and limited to increase their resources.  The job market is kaput and those looking for jobs don't have the skills set that the "good" jobs are looking for.  Also, the majority of job applying is done via the Internet. 

The library provides Internet.

The reduction in libraries in a city like Chicago is dangerous.  Shut down the libraries, and we will be left with a Red Eye, with bold letters on the front stating: HOMICIDE REPORT.

The family-oriented branch I live near is now closed on Mondays. 

What a way to start out the week? Wouldn't you rather have your child going to the neighborhood library after school, than returning the first day of the school week after school to sit on the couch watching TV? 
TV has limited options, despite the increase in cable channels. Libraries offer you an array of choices at no charge to the patron.  Including CDs and DVDs.

Many youth these days could probably give you a break down of the major text lingo out there: OMG, BRB, or LOL.  But we should not be laughing if they never used a dictionary book to look up a word or checked out a book at the library. The youth are our future and we seem to forget that.
 
There is no truer statement than: "Knowledge is Power." Disenfranchised groups, such as girls and women are already at a disadvantage when it comes to access of knowledge.  For the most part females are not encouraged to "be smart." Many are in limited situations: confined to their homes, their neighborhoods or no graduation from high school.

Pregnancy rates of high schoolers and in some cases middle schoolers in Chicago are alarming!  Because education is lacking, especially sexual health education.  Hearsay and misinformation is taking many girls down the wrong path.  And unfortuantely this path can be generational.

I remember in my Sociology class my professer saying that education is a great way to get out of poverty.  As a recent college grad, I would say student  loans can lead you to poverty.  But, I do believe that higher education can open the door to more opportunities.

In order to get to complete a higher education, you must know how to read and have access to reading.

Chanting for Roe V. Wade!!!!

So excited to be kicking off the chants for this years rally. Even though it's like 9 degrees I still feel just as excited as if it were a breezy 72 degrees. It is so important that we remember the women that opened the doors and made choice possible. Now its up to us to carry the torch and make sure those doors stay open and new ones open up. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!! Peace, Love and Choice!!!

Roe V Wade Rally

Today the women in the leadership group and myself will be participating in the annual Roe v. Wade rally at the Thompson Center. I am quite excited about this event because it will be the first Roe v. Wade rally that I have attended. I am happy to be a part of this. However, I am quite nervous also because I will be speaking. I have always been one to shy away from public speaking because it has never been one of my strong points. If I am to continue to do this work and to be a leader this one aspect that I will always have to face. So today I will be facing my fears and standing up for what is right. There's nothing like killing two birds with one stone.