Sheer outrage exploded in the world of social media Wednesday, September 5, surrounding this Afiya Center billboard targeting black women. The abortion billboard in Dallas, Texas, proclaims: “Black women take care of their families by taking care of themselves. Abortion is self-care.”
The Dallas-based Afiya Center, an advocacy group that focuses on women’s reproductive rights and health (including abortion), was slammed with comments that included complaints and kudos. Two key points were at the heart of the comments: 1. The issue of targeting African American women and 2. The issue of abortion.
REALLY???? REALLY?? So this is our self care huh? How insulting! 😡 #AFIYA pic.twitter.com/lERSUIjvnw
— Rashida (@mstexas07) August 31, 2018
This is disgusting! #TrustBlackWomen #Afiya https://t.co/8zigYbkTI4
— Myosha (@MyoshaMy) August 31, 2018
@TheAfiyaCtr Now you’re promoting genocide towards black women in the community where blacks are the minority #afiya
— indigoafrican (@LexDaDiva) August 28, 2018
Abortion Billboard Targets African American Women
One commenter stated, “Black communities are being targeted by the abortion industry with black women three times more likely to abort their babies than white women.”
According to the Guttmacher Institute, that statistic seems to be true. The Guttmacher Institute touts itself as “a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights.” This chart shows that in 2014, there were almost three times as many abortions among Black non-Hispanic women than White non-Hispanic women between ages 15-44.
In response to the claims that The Afiya Center was targeting African American women, the organization posted this on their Facebook page:
