"To Court Blacks, Foes of Abortion Make Racial Case"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/us/27race.html?bl#

The battle over abortion rights has always been a fierce one. A new tactic developed by "pro-life" organizations was to target the black community by hiring more African Americans. When Georgia Right to Life's largely white staff attempted to reach out to the disproportionately high female Black population, they found themselves unsuccessful. However, the simple hiring of a black minority outreach coordinator led to better results for less money. Across the nation, other organizations do the same as the "white and Republican" anti-abortion movement advocates black supporters to become more active. Much more media is coming out about how abortion seems to be disproportionately high among blacks because the abortion clinics are targeting them. "Womb lynchings" seems to be the new term as more an more evidence supporting the theory is uncovered, such as taped recording of Planned Parenthood accepting donation specifically for black abortions. Surprisingly, black women receive almost 40 percent of the country's abortions but make up only 13 percent of the population. Some see this as support for the conspiracy theory that abortion clinics target black women. Others, "pro-choice" supporters, say that the high number of black women abortions is no fault of the clinics but simply the result of too many pregnancies. Proponents of the theory are quick to cite black leaders, such as Marcus Garvey, who were strictly against abortion and opponents cite black leaders as well, such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. King, who applauded the efforts to give birth control to the black community. Which side is correct is unclear, but the conspiracy seems to have enough evidence to produce documentaries and movies upon it that are changing the way people think about abortion.

I found myself having mixed feelings as I read this article. I am a staunch supporter of the "pro-life" movement and feel that there is no reason to deprive a child of the right to live. However, I felt that this conspiracy theory may have been going too far. To characterize abortion clinics as some sort of genocidal group seemed to be placing undeserved blame upon a group that despite its faults has its own merits as well. Unnecessarily demonizing abortion clinics is the wrong way toward preventing abortion. Yes, it may achieve results, however, I feel that allowing people to have access the correct knowledge and then making their own decision is a much more moral and proper way to go about it. But the theory does have its strong points and I can see why it would be so easily convincing. The abortion movement has truly been lacking into inquiring why the Black community, which focuses heavily on the importance of family and religion, has such a disproportionately high percentage of abortions. The fact that the movement is realizing its follies and beginning to open its doors to the other ethnicities is a huge step in the right direction, and will have powerful consequences in the future. Saving lives is the, or should be, the goal of the "pro-life" movement and if this is currently an effective method, I say they should run with it. But they should be careful what information they give to the public and how the media will spin the issue, for misinformation can have powerful reprucussions and could lead to a loss of faith in the anti-abortion movement.