New Anti-Abortion Billboard Points Fingers at Black Leaders
(Photo: www.abortioninthehood.com)
In a shocking attempt to capture of the attention of the African-American public on the issue of abortion, yet another controversial billboard targeting Blacks has sprung up — this time in Atlanta.
The campaign features photos of African-American leaders such as Jesse Jackson and members of the Congressional Black Caucus beside the text “What does it mean to be betrayed?” written in red script that resembles blood and links to the campaign’s website: www.abortioninthehood.com.
According to the Restoration Project, the organization behind the campaign and the billboard, African-American leaders have duped Blacks by their failure to take a stand against abortion in the African-American community.
"Something is wrong when those elected to protect the interests of their constituents turn a blind eye to the horrific impact that abortion is wreaking on the Black community,” said Catherine Davis of the Restoration Project. “In New York City, for every 1,000 Black babies born alive, 1,489 are aborted. In Washington, D.C., for every 100 Black babies born alive, 165 are aborted! Something is wrong!"
According to its website, the Restoration Project works to inform, educate and activate concerned citizens on the impact of America’s public policy and culture on Black life and the family.
Not everyone is buying the message, however. Professor R. L’Heureux Lewis, assistant professor of sociology and Black studies at the City College of New York, told BET.com that campaigns like “Betrayed” are old, racist tactics that only serve to malign Black women’s reproductive freedoms.
“I think that this continues a long trend of anti-choice advocacy toward African-American communities,” said Lewis. “By using public figures like Jackson or others they are trying to argue that Blacks are trying to kill themselves and that Black leaders are at the head of it, but the ultimate goal is to limit Black women and what they can do with their bodies.”