Is Black Abortion Genocide?
Despite all the recent news stories of well-intentioned whites bombarding American borders with black babies–colored children are not in high demand. They are not, as celebrity child-collectors would have you believe, the next big thing. Instead, they are in America and abroad, getting their asses kicked by hunger, by poverty, by disease, by parent-less homes, by poor education, by mass incarceration, and by violence. And they are angry. Look at this website! Hell, look at the photo I put up there. Do you see that girl’s face?
Recently in Atlanta, aka America’s next Detroit, a series of billboards proclaiming “Black Children Are an Endangered Species” made their debut across the city. Since then, public opinion has vacillated between abortion of blacks as a form of genocide to it’s a woman’s right to choose. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dxJsmWEKls Ryan Bomberger, the black guy at the beginning of this video believes the former. And judging by the testosterone heavy anti-abortion rallies, the hecklers, and the Scott Roeder’s of the world, most men believe they have a dog in this fight. They don’t. Hence, it would make more sense for Mr. Bomberger to send his wife, who heads the Radiance Foundation to make the argument against black abortion. But news flash–she ain’t a sista!
Long before arguments for building up the black population as a political strategy, white supremacists (nationalists) from Hitler to David Duke (Grand Wizard) sought to keep the white race pure by only breeding with their own. Beyond their sexual ideologies, they took it a step further and actively sought to intimidate and exterminate people of color and minorities via the Holocaust and the KKK. Margaret Sanger, a birth control activist also touted contraception as a way to control populations but how much progress would she have made without W.E.B. DuBois? The “Endangered Species” ad plays off this history and then haphazardly points to the ethnicity of its producers to assuage people’s negative reactions. Relax, a black person produced this.
But DuBois wasn’t all that black and neither is Bomberger. And yes, I’m going to make the same color argument I’ve been making–skin color matters. It is the primary reason Bomberger is at liberty to make suggestions about black behaviors while he continues to live as far away from the margins as possible. His own multicultural upbringing may have made him appreciative of diversity, but it has done little to make him sensitive to the differences that confront the racial minorities of melting pot families. Thus while I can look at Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts’ brood and think what a wonderful experience it must be to create your own little home of equality, at the end of the day, I know better. Bomberger doesn’t.
Love is not all we need. At least not all of us. For every Haitian child pulled from the rubble by a concerned citizen another black child awaits adoption in America. Judging by the trends, this child will continue to wait as the number of black adoptions continue to decline. Black children are not only aborted because their parents don’t want them–no one does. If they do happen to get here, they are more likely to live on the streets, more likely to drop out of school, more likely to go to jail, and more likely to end up on death row. Seems to me, abortion or not, extinction is imminent.
An excellent and well written expose’ of the real plight that faces Black children in America. It calls upon us to question the real value of their lives and reaffirms the old adage that “the truth hurts”.
An excellent and well written expose’ of the real plight that faces Black children in America. It calls upon us to question the real value of their lives and reaffirms the old adage that “the truth hurts”.
This is a great piece. I find it frustrating that the creators of this extinction ad seem to focus on only the act of abortion, and not the causes that would lead a women to obtain one in the first place, for example poverty, which disproportionately effect the black community.
This is a great piece. I find it frustrating that the creators of this extinction ad seem to focus on only the act of abortion, and not the causes that would lead a women to obtain one in the first place, for example poverty, which disproportionately effect the black community.
Thanks for the responses. @ Tim: I totally agree with you. I’m shocked it has drawn so much attention and that the arguments have centered mostly around abortion. No one seems to be willing to talk about why many women consider it the best choice. I’m sure access to abortion clinics has some influence on a woman’s decision to abort, but to suggest their placement encourages it is careless.
Thanks for the responses. @ Tim: I totally agree with you. I’m shocked it has drawn so much attention and that the arguments have centered mostly around abortion. No one seems to be willing to talk about why many women consider it the best choice. I’m sure access to abortion clinics has some influence on a woman’s decision to abort, but to suggest their placement encourages it is careless.
Alex, thanks for this post. I think this is a vital discussion. I agree with you and Tim that it’s unfair to place the onus of ‘preserving’ the race on Black women. The ad basically scolds Black women for ‘failing’ the community with their visits to the clinic, and ignores other factors contributing to blacks’ literal and metaphorical extinction, including the factors that prompt these visits. The conclusion of your post was rather bleak, but I recognize that, to a large extent, it’s just the truth. I have no problem talking about the pros and cons of abortion for ‘the community’, but let’s also talk about poverty, obesity, absent fathers, the school-to-prison pipeline, HIV/AIDS proliferation, over-incarceration, Black youth violence (e.g., Derrion Albert’s death), and low adoption rates. This isn’t just extraneous mumbo jumbo. It’s all connected and realizing this is necessary to fixing the problem(s).
Alex, thanks for this post. I think this is a vital discussion. I agree with you and Tim that it’s unfair to place the onus of ‘preserving’ the race on Black women. The ad basically scolds Black women for ‘failing’ the community with their visits to the clinic, and ignores other factors contributing to blacks’ literal and metaphorical extinction, including the factors that prompt these visits. The conclusion of your post was rather bleak, but I recognize that, to a large extent, it’s just the truth. I have no problem talking about the pros and cons of abortion for ‘the community’, but let’s also talk about poverty, obesity, absent fathers, the school-to-prison pipeline, HIV/AIDS proliferation, over-incarceration, Black youth violence (e.g., Derrion Albert’s death), and low adoption rates. This isn’t just extraneous mumbo jumbo. It’s all connected and realizing this is necessary to fixing the problem(s).
Hi Alex,
Thank you for writing on this story. First let me own my biases. I am Christian gay black male. I don’t personally think of abortion as right, but given that I am gay and male, I understand it as an individual’s decision. Besides any pregnancy I am involved in (much later in my life) will be the utmost planned occurrence down to the Mensa female (who went to Oxford) family friend’s egg. (you got to plan these things perfectly.)
Like my decision to get an egg, to someone’s decision to abort it is all about self-determination. I don’t think abortion is a wrong decision for some people. In fact, given the health outcomes and/or financial outcomes of many women and their children, I think it might be fair for someone to teach youth about Planned Parenthood. I think there is a necessity for us to teach why it is important for both men and women (beyond STIs/STDs) to be concerned about sexual health and PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
I don’t agree with Ryan Bomberger’s position on this being genocide. I think self-determination is the most precious of rights. It is the key to independence and learning one’s power. For him to say it is genocide is to unfairly weigh-in on a very private matter. I don’t claim to understand people who seek abortions, but I would imagine terminating a pregnancy to be a very painful (physical and emotional) process, especially given the invisible “scarlet letter” that often is cited by those who have had abortions. Although, I readily admit there are some folks who aren’t fazed; who have had multiple abortions and treat them like a contraceptive. Still with these imagined ‘worst case’ scenarios, it is a matter of individual choice. To label it as genocide is to do a disservice to those black women’s decision, and to shame them into possibly harmful situations for both themselves and our society.
I will however refine from critiquing his performance of being the concerned black man with his white partner. This is a common enough story for black males gay or straight and it is increasingly becoming true for black women Lesbian or straight as well. However, I do think you were right to note his partner is a white female. It certainly adds a level of complexity to this tragic example of racialized-sexism.
Hi Alex,
Thank you for writing on this story. First let me own my biases. I am Christian gay black male. I don’t personally think of abortion as right, but given that I am gay and male, I understand it as an individual’s decision. Besides any pregnancy I am involved in (much later in my life) will be the utmost planned occurrence down to the Mensa female (who went to Oxford) family friend’s egg. (you got to plan these things perfectly.)
Like my decision to get an egg, to someone’s decision to abort it is all about self-determination. I don’t think abortion is a wrong decision for some people. In fact, given the health outcomes and/or financial outcomes of many women and their children, I think it might be fair for someone to teach youth about Planned Parenthood. I think there is a necessity for us to teach why it is important for both men and women (beyond STIs/STDs) to be concerned about sexual health and PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
I don’t agree with Ryan Bomberger’s position on this being genocide. I think self-determination is the most precious of rights. It is the key to independence and learning one’s power. For him to say it is genocide is to unfairly weigh-in on a very private matter. I don’t claim to understand people who seek abortions, but I would imagine terminating a pregnancy to be a very painful (physical and emotional) process, especially given the invisible “scarlet letter” that often is cited by those who have had abortions. Although, I readily admit there are some folks who aren’t fazed; who have had multiple abortions and treat them like a contraceptive. Still with these imagined ‘worst case’ scenarios, it is a matter of individual choice. To label it as genocide is to do a disservice to those black women’s decision, and to shame them into possibly harmful situations for both themselves and our society.
I will however refine from critiquing his performance of being the concerned black man with his white partner. This is a common enough story for black males gay or straight and it is increasingly becoming true for black women Lesbian or straight as well. However, I do think you were right to note his partner is a white female. It certainly adds a level of complexity to this tragic example of racialized-sexism.
@aron. thank you for your comments. i do believe “fixing the problem” is a matter of preference. we must also remember the word “problem” is relative. haha.
@supernerd. thank you for your mini-blog. 🙂 i think you are smart to uproot your own biases. it always helps with any argument and clearly bomberger didn’t think to shed light on his own. also, i think his sexual relationship to a non-black partner is crucial. considering his claims of “black” genocide, he could at least do his part to increase the black population and he isn’t.
@aron. thank you for your comments. i do believe “fixing the problem” is a matter of preference. we must also remember the word “problem” is relative. haha.
@supernerd. thank you for your mini-blog. 🙂 i think you are smart to uproot your own biases. it always helps with any argument and clearly bomberger didn’t think to shed light on his own. also, i think his sexual relationship to a non-black partner is crucial. considering his claims of “black” genocide, he could at least do his part to increase the black population and he isn’t.
That’s a VERY good point, Alex. The word “problem” is indeed relative. To clarify, I was recognizing poverty, obesity, absent fathers, the school-to-prison pipeline, HIV/AIDS proliferation, over-incarceration, Black youth violence and low adoption rates as problems within Black communities. Some of these and other problems may be linked to the abortion trends we see today. Now, to the extent that the statistics cited in the clip accurately reflect the reality of Black women in Georgia (or the U.S. in general), then I dare say that the circumstances surrounding them, if not the abortions themselves, are also problems.
While I believe in a woman’s right to choose, I can’t ignore the reality that choosing abortion is often a “problem” for most women, Black and non-Black alike. Either before or after the pregnancy is terminated, most (if not all) women experience some degree of mental and emotional disease for varying lengths of time–irrespective of race, age, religion or socioeconomic status. Now, we can say this is all driven by the stigma attached to the procedure by so-called “judgmental pro-lifers”, but the mental and emotional toll these women experience remains real nonetheless. I know women, Black and non-Black, poor to middle class, who’ve had abortions and I’m sure that you, like me, know there’s a lot of grey area as far as this matter is concerned. No woman I know who’s had an abortion has ever told me in absolute terms, “I regret it”, but they also don’t say, “It was the best thing to ever happen to me and I wish I could have the opportunity to make that choice again.” I simply understand their perspective as, “I did what I felt I had to do with the options available to me and I hope that the choice I’ve made will enhance the quality of my life.”
The women I know don’t necessarily regret their abortions, but based on what they’ve shared with me, I don’t believe the situation of weighing the pros and cons of abortion was ideal; it was just necessary. And until abortion has no more stigma attached to it than simply “wrapping it up”, I’d like to see less women in a situation where they feel compelled to choose this alternative, whether because of rape, unprotected consensual sex, ill-preparedness for parenthood, an absent father, or plain carelessness. In sum, yes, the option should and MUST be available, but only as a last resort. As someone who’ll never have to make that decision, I won’t get too specific with what merits a ‘valid’ reason, but I sincerely hope that circumstances improve such that women choose it less and appropriately. FYI: I’m a pro-choice, Black, gay male from a middleclass background, and I was raised in a single-parent, female-headed household. I’m not sure of there are other defining characteristics I should list.
That’s a VERY good point, Alex. The word “problem” is indeed relative. To clarify, I was recognizing poverty, obesity, absent fathers, the school-to-prison pipeline, HIV/AIDS proliferation, over-incarceration, Black youth violence and low adoption rates as problems within Black communities. Some of these and other problems may be linked to the abortion trends we see today. Now, to the extent that the statistics cited in the clip accurately reflect the reality of Black women in Georgia (or the U.S. in general), then I dare say that the circumstances surrounding them, if not the abortions themselves, are also problems.
While I believe in a woman’s right to choose, I can’t ignore the reality that choosing abortion is often a “problem” for most women, Black and non-Black alike. Either before or after the pregnancy is terminated, most (if not all) women experience some degree of mental and emotional disease for varying lengths of time–irrespective of race, age, religion or socioeconomic status. Now, we can say this is all driven by the stigma attached to the procedure by so-called “judgmental pro-lifers”, but the mental and emotional toll these women experience remains real nonetheless. I know women, Black and non-Black, poor to middle class, who’ve had abortions and I’m sure that you, like me, know there’s a lot of grey area as far as this matter is concerned. No woman I know who’s had an abortion has ever told me in absolute terms, “I regret it”, but they also don’t say, “It was the best thing to ever happen to me and I wish I could have the opportunity to make that choice again.” I simply understand their perspective as, “I did what I felt I had to do with the options available to me and I hope that the choice I’ve made will enhance the quality of my life.”
The women I know don’t necessarily regret their abortions, but based on what they’ve shared with me, I don’t believe the situation of weighing the pros and cons of abortion was ideal; it was just necessary. And until abortion has no more stigma attached to it than simply “wrapping it up”, I’d like to see less women in a situation where they feel compelled to choose this alternative, whether because of rape, unprotected consensual sex, ill-preparedness for parenthood, an absent father, or plain carelessness. In sum, yes, the option should and MUST be available, but only as a last resort. As someone who’ll never have to make that decision, I won’t get too specific with what merits a ‘valid’ reason, but I sincerely hope that circumstances improve such that women choose it less and appropriately. FYI: I’m a pro-choice, Black, gay male from a middleclass background, and I was raised in a single-parent, female-headed household. I’m not sure of there are other defining characteristics I should list.
and i simply meant, maybe the extinction of black people isn’t a problem, per se.
another thing i find interesting…only men are really commenting on this post. hmmm.
and i simply meant, maybe the extinction of black people isn’t a problem, per se.
another thing i find interesting…only men are really commenting on this post. hmmm.
Oh. Yeah, for some it’s not a problem at all (and that sadly includes Black people). And yes, I too would like to hear more non-male voices on this subject.
Oh. Yeah, for some it’s not a problem at all (and that sadly includes Black people). And yes, I too would like to hear more non-male voices on this subject.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_there_any_rules_about_genocide_in_the_Geneva_Convention
article II, part (e) of the geneva accords specifically prohibits the transfer of children from one group to another, considering it a form of GENOCIDE. i could not agree more.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_there_any_rules_about_genocide_in_the_Geneva_Convention
article II, part (e) of the geneva accords specifically prohibits the transfer of children from one group to another, considering it a form of GENOCIDE. i could not agree more.