There are lots of discussions in communities of color - especially in the Black community - about whether we should participate in the fight for reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. It is a valid discussion because of what has gone down historically at times like these. We have every right to question what role we should play in this. ⁣ ⁣ Historically, Black people, especially Black women have been intimately involved in organizing and participating in resistance movements in the US. They have rarely gotten credit for their contributions and often have been the first to become vilified and not supported by others in these movements. Black people, especially Black women, don’t reap the benefits of their hard work (or they get only a fraction of what they deserve). ⁣ ⁣ Also, in a pre-Roe world, things have not been equitable for us. Maternal mortality, infant mortality, and poverty have affected Black people more than others in this country and continue to do so. Many wonder why we should engage in a fight that we may not appropriately benefit from and could possibly harm us by putting us in the front line to be attacked by those opposed to us. ⁣ ⁣ Despite all of this history, I believe that we (folks from marginalized communities) need to be part of the fight. Because I’m fighting for those who look like me, who need these protections of their bodily autonomy. But I also think we need to hold everyone involved accountable for making things equitable. We can’t have folks sacrificing for a movement that will not ensure that there is equity amongst its ranks. ⁣ ⁣ #reproductivejustice #reproductivehealth #bansoffourbodies #mybodymychoice #blackmaternalhealth #drheathershealth⁣ ⁣