By DaiJhah Owens
Since, well, forever, abortion rights have been a controversial topic. It is an issue that everyone has an opinion. With the current political climate and a new Supreme Court seat up for grabs, once again, abortion rights have been at the forefront of media headlines. With that comes groups on each end of the spectrum speaking out for or against abortion, particularly the group who call themselves “Pro-Life.” This blog is less about my personal stance on abortion and more about the deadly hypocrisy of self-proclaimed “Pro-Lifers.”
Let me start by saying, whatever your beliefs about abortion are, those are yours. Hold them dearly, as it is your right. BUT, I desperately need “Pro-Lifers” to keep that same energy when other lives that are just as precious to God are also in danger. You can’t in one breath condemn the right to abortion based upon the sanctity of life, while simultaneously justifying the executions of unarmed Black folks. You can’t in one breath condemn abortion rights while seeing Black and POC’s suffering under the rule of white supremacy. Does God value one life over the other? Does Jesus only intercede on behalf of one kind of life? As a believer, I would hope not.
As a Christian who is also a Black Woman, I don’t have the privilege to advocate for one life while staying silent on the genocides happening around our country. It angers me when I see folks on social media boast loudly about being pro-life, but have little to nothing to say about people’s suffering outside the womb. Will you defend the right to life of my future black child once they are out of my womb?
Your blatant hypocrisy waters down your claim to being pro-life. Your justification of families being separated, torn apart, and kept in cages makes your pro-life stance weak. Please refer to yourselves as being anti-abortion. That would sufficiently cover the extent of care you have for life. Calling yourselves anything else would be a lie.
Truly being Pro-Life means boldly advocating on behalf of lives being harmed inside AND outside the womb. It means purposefully making yourself uncomfortable so that other people may know justice. It means doing away with your self-righteousness and mourning with those who mourn. It means acknowledging the privilege you hold and then giving it up in the name of equity. It means recognizing the systems we currently have in our country are not conducive for any life but that of a rich, cishet, white man.
If you genuinely seek to be Pro-Life, I urge you to look at yourself and those you surround yourself with. Are you genuinely leading the life of someone who is pro-life, or are you just another talking head?
DaiJhah Owens is a Contributing Writer for the Pedestal Project, LLC. DaiJhah is passionate about shifting political power to oppressed groups through education. She believes there is nothing more powerful than an educated black woman who can smell political BS a mile away! Connect with her on Instagram at @d_nakhole!
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