RACIALLY-CHARGED BILLBOARD IN SOHO,NY
Does an anti-abortion billboard in SoHo targeting African-Americans veer into racism, or expose a societal issue crying for attention?
The three-story billboard purchased by a Texas anti-abortion group has stirred an outcry, all the more because of its loaded presentation. It features an image of a young black girl accompanied by the text: "The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb."
Many New Yorkers were outraged at the sign, calling it racist.
"Tear that thing down!" said City Councilman Charles Barron (D-East New York), who plans to write a letter to Life Always about the billboard. "It needs to come down immediately."
But in defense, Rev. Derek McCoy, a board member of the group, Life Always, said the goal is to bring attention to abortion rates among African Americans.
"We do think we've gone too far, and we do think it's over the edge," he said. "But the city's abortion rates have crossed the mark and are over the top.
"We want to raise awareness and create the dialogue … and let women understand that there are alternatives, all throughout the city."
According to 2006 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans account for about 13 percent of the country's population, but for about 35 percent of its abortions.
Chris Slattery, president of anti-abortion organization Expectant Mother Care FrontLine Pregnancy Centers, agreed with McCoy.
"I think it's spot on the money," he said. "It is absolutely a completely factual truth … for anyone to say this is inflammatory or untrue is nonsense. It's just a plain fact."
The billboard also targets Planned Parenthood, which McCoy said uses "direct targeting" by putting clinics in minority neighborhoods.
Joan Malin, chief of Planned Parenthood New York City, called the sign a "reprehensible act."
"[The billboard is] an offensive and condescending effort to stigmatize and shame African-American women while attempting to discredit the work of Planned Parenthood," she said.
Some politicians in the city were just as outraged. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said the billboard is "nothing but a pathetic attempt to discredit Planned Parenthood."
Many New Yorkers felt the same way.
"I hate it. I think it's racist," said Scott Ettin, 45, of the Upper West Side. "Any woman who wants to have an abortion should be able to," he said, adding that the billboard is right outside his office window and he wants it taken down.
But others, such as Kat, who declined to be further identified, were surprised but ambivalent to the billboard.
"Honestly, I don't know quite know what it means," she said. "Somebody is speaking their opinion very loudly, and I think that’s their right, just as I have the right to speak mine."
(With Erik Ortiz and Dina Davis)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on -
I heard about this on the radio this morning. If statistics show that abortion is high among african americans, why is this racist? Isn't it the truth???
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Permalink Reply by LatinTemptress on -
I don't know Shawn, I was asking myself the same thing. I'm thinking its the way its phrased: The MOST DANGEROUS place for an AFRICAN AMERICAN is in the WOMB.
Shawn said:
I heard about this on the radio this morning. If statistics show that abortion is high among african americans, why is this racist? Isn't it the truth???
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Permalink Reply by LatinTemptress on
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These are obviously Pro-Lifers. They could've said: The most dangerous place for A CHILD is in the womb. That way the message is not biased, doesn't point to a specific race and it sends their anti-abortion message across.
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Permalink Reply by PrincefromQueens on -
I was just about to say that.... focusing on ANY one race was not a good move....regardless of the facts or not. Them saying (posting) it aint gonna change any statistics... you (they) think seeing that is causing any women from walking into that clinic to carry out a decision that they made their minds up on? No..... just caused some controversy and mixed emotions from the general public, thats about it.... the numbers wont get any lower from that billboard.
LatinTemptress said:
These are obviously Pro-Lifers. They could've said: The most dangerous place for A CHILD is in the womb. That way the message is not biased, doesn't point to a specific race and it sends their anti-abortion message across.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on
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I have to disagree. If one race is more likely to have an abortion than another race, why not point out that race. Personally, it's so irritating at the sensisitivity of black people when the truth is pointed out. If black women are more likely to have abortions than any other race, why get mad at a billboard or the people behind the billboard? Get mad at the people having the abortions and making the statistics. I feel this way about alot of things. Black people are so sensitive when the truth is told, but aren't doing anything to make it better. Stop doing dumb shit and you won't be put on blast.
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PrincefromQueens said:I was just about to say that.... focusing on ANY one race was not a good move....regardless of the facts or not. Them saying (posting) it aint gonna change any statistics... you (they) think seeing that is causing any women from walking into that clinic to carry out a decision that they made their minds up on? No..... just caused some controversy and mixed emotions from the general public, thats about it.... the numbers wont get any lower from that billboard.
LatinTemptress said:These are obviously Pro-Lifers. They could've said: The most dangerous place for A CHILD is in the womb. That way the message is not biased, doesn't point to a specific race and it sends their anti-abortion message across.
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Permalink Reply by mr.moody on -
"According to 2006 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans account for about 13 percent of the country's population, but for about 35 percent of its abortions."
We have to stop doing dumb shit, and then getting offended by the repercussions.(repeat that 3x)
We have a complete loss of personal integrity and self accountability in our community.
Todays woman(very many, but not all)are the most despicable, gold digging, cum bucket, unprotected sex having skeezes of all time!
Todays man is equally as fucked up! When you combine the two, you make a generation of failure destined children that never had a fighting chance in the world.
We put all of our worth in bling, cars, fashion, and bullshit! We ARE out there fucking at record rates....UNPROTECTED!
We DO have despicable whores that get pregnant just for a check!
And all of this is displayed on the reality tv shows that we love so much(how funny, that we would actually be the consumer allies to our own destruction)
That ad should stay up there until we wake the fuck up. Unfortunately tho', like Prince said, that ad aint gon change shit!
As we type, a young woman is getting dressed in her 'slutday's' best, to go try to find a baller to have a baby by.
If her plans go awry, or if she just realizes that she has been going raw dog with a dude that she didnt even love...she can just abort the baby, right?
After all...it's all just fun and games!
I hope they keep that billboard up! I mostly hope, at least a few young sistas get the message.
Reap what you sow...indeed.
Im just sayin.....
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Permalink Reply by Miss New York on -
Wait a minute...isn't abortion a world-wide issue? If that be the case then this billboard should have said...The most dangeruos place for any human is in the womb. I'm also amazed at how this was targeted specifically towards the African-Americam community as well.
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Permalink Reply by Miss New York on
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Hey Moody...as always you kept ot %10000, but I have to comment on several points you made on this subject:
We DO have despicable whores that get pregnant just for a check!
That's beyond true. A 21 year-old woman with six kids by five different guys...WTF?!?!?! But in all fairness, there are desipicable men out there who are just as guilty (I know a guy who has four by four different women and only takes care of one child). These are the same men who will bed down every woman they meet, make a baby with her and disappear, but you also have men who are stand-up guy, who will step up to the plate and take responsibility for the child(ren). It's also a shame that some men only understand the ugly (threats of legal action, child support papers being served, etc) aspect of things that motivates them to take responsibility for their DNA actions. .
And all of this is displayed on the reality tv shows that we love so much(how funny, that we would actually be the consumer allies to our own destruction)
The fact that this particular tv show GLORIFIES this should be a wake-up cal to the women who put themselves out there, thus the humiliation that entails when the test comes back negative. What I REALLY want to know is...how can you bring countless men on the show and none of them is the father????
As we type, a young woman is getting dressed in her 'slutday's' best, to go try to find a baller to have a baby by.
Not always the case...You're only seeing the woman in that moment. Granted, she's wearing her "slutday" best, but that doesn't automatically mean that she's on the hunt for a sperm donor. I've seen women who work legitimite 9 to 5's and they choose to dress like this on a day to day basis. Or better yet, let me take it to another level...I know a young woman who dressed like that through college. The reason...she worked as an exotic dancer and with the momey she made, she was able to pay her way through school. The end result...she earned her degree, Now she works as a teacher and has left the slutday wardrobe behind.
If her plans go awry, or if she just realizes that she has been going raw dog with a dude that she didnt even love...she can just abort the baby, right?
Not necessarily the case...there's a 50/50 chance that if she does become pregnant by accident, she will take responsibility. You have jhs/hs girls out there who actually get pregnant as a result of their first time, and they have no choice but to terminate.
After all...it's all just fun and games!
Not quite...I think in some to most cases, it's an issue of dignity and self-respect...two things that we as a society are lacking.
mr.moody said:"According to 2006 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans account for about 13 percent of the country's population, but for about 35 percent of its abortions."
We have to stop doing dumb shit, and then getting offended by the repercussions.(repeat that 3x)
We have a complete loss of personal integrity and self accountability in our community.
Todays woman(very many, but not all)are the most despicable, gold digging, cum bucket, unprotected sex having skeezes of all time!
Todays man is equally as fucked up! When you combine the two, you make a generation of failure destined children that never had a fighting chance in the world.
We put all of our worth in bling, cars, fashion, and bullshit! We ARE out there fucking at record rates....UNPROTECTED!
We DO have despicable whores that get pregnant just for a check!
And all of this is displayed on the reality tv shows that we love so much(how funny, that we would actually be the consumer allies to our own destruction)
That ad should stay up there until we wake the fuck up. Unfortunately tho', like Prince said, that ad aint gon change shit!
As we type, a young woman is getting dressed in her 'slutday's' best, to go try to find a baller to have a baby by.
If her plans go awry, or if she just realizes that she has been going raw dog with a dude that she didnt even love...she can just abort the baby, right?
After all...it's all just fun and games!
I hope they keep that billboard up! I mostly hope, at least a few young sistas get the message.
Reap what you sow...indeed.
Im just sayin.....
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Permalink Reply by PrincefromQueens on
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Shawn, I hear you BUT at the end of the day....billboard or no billboard, shit wont change....We all know that the abortion issue isnt a new statistic... and i dont see it dying down anytime soon either...IMO
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on
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Abortion is a world wide issue, but according to statistics, African American women are 3x more likely to have an abortion than their white or hispanic counter parts. That's why the billboard was directed as us. Unfortunately, the billboard is being taken down.
Miss New York said:Wait a minute...isn't abortion a world-wide issue? If that be the case then this billboard should have said...The most dangeruos place for any human is in the womb. I'm also amazed at how this was targeted specifically towards the African-Americam community as well.
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Permalink Reply by The Evil Genius on -
Blam Blam Blam Blam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that's statistically truth for ya. Cold hard facts!!!
classychick1 said:I felt compelled to respond to this forum, because it’s finally not on the sexually topic!
How could some of us be so one-sided/ simpleminded? How could one NOT understand the anger from the black community…? They have every right to feel those ads are detrimental to the black community.
“The MOST DANGEROUS place for an AFRICAN AMERICAN is in the WOMB” SMMFH, CTFU.
I’m not Ignorant to the "quote" The implication is clear, they feel we are in the process of total "genocide"!
I feel the ads are ambiguous and deliver the wrong message, but I can also say as hurtful as they are, there may be a hidden message behind the ads that bear some truth. To me, this ad, in its simplest form is implying that black women are incapable of giving birth to healthy and productive children.
It’s has nothing to do with “US” black being sensitive… Yes there’s something sinister and even systematic going on. I agree something must be done but ultimately ITS NOT JUST "US"! So why single out one?
Why don’t we take timeout and look to see whether or not they (WE) REPORTING all of these abortions to the State. The last time I check the CDC doing these reports DO NOT include the stats of MIDDLE and RICH class white girls/women who go into private doctors (it clearly state public) office near their schools when they get knock up (as a matter a fact, I’ve had a few friend where their mother have a personal saving for the oops factor)… The statistics then get slanted to the point where it only report Latinos and black women having babies or aborting at a much higher rate… let’s keep the sh!t 100% white women still have the most abortions, even the CDC stated that!
In 2004, 60% of all abortions were by white women; however, because "we minorities" make up a smaller percent of the overall national population, it seemed we were having the most abortion (again because of the ratio).
For 2005, the highest percentages of reported abortions were for women who were known to be unmarried (81%), white (53%), and aged <25 years (50%); that's more than half of the overall!
I'm just saying!!
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5713a1.htm
http://www.lifenews.com/2009/11/25/nat-5707/
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Permalink Reply by mr.moody on
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GREAT POINTS, Queen Classy!
Heres a few things that your 'stats' didnt include.
#1-No other race is judged, exploited, and descriminated against for having babies out of wedlock, and having abortions like us so called 'AFRICAN AMERICANS''
#2-No other race is a victim to the systematic entrapment that comes with teenage pregnancy and abortion.
#3-No other musical culture endorses wreckless sexual behavior, hatred for women, violence, and ignorance like OUR culture.
You see, my Queen...they dont make 'stats' for those intangibles.
In my eyes, i am PROUDLY close-minded/simple minded on this issue!
A young 'black' male is on the corner dealing drugs to his community. A cop cars rolls up. He runs. He is chased by the officer into a dark alley. The young man whirls around and the officer shoots. The young man is killed.
Here comes the community! They want the officers head, but they are not concerned that the young man was dealing death into their community. This is the trap that was set for us!(this shit gets deep)
Aids is literally LAUNCHED into the poorest of Americas ghettos. What first started out as a gay mans disease, is now a global contaminate that has shattered continents(the poor ones only) and wreaked havoc on the inner cities.
The 'community' comes out and blames the government for aids, but does not wholly condemn the foolish and dangerous act of having unprotected sex and doing drugs. This is the trap that was set for us!(this shit gets even deeper!)
We lead the way in high school drop out and incarceration(i am a part of that 'stat') Gangs have taken over our communities, and our young men are as good as dead before they even get to know what life is about. Our young queens are having babies by the age of 12.
The 'community', blames the government, and racism. While both are responsible for the plight, the 'community' refuses to man the fuk up and hold the PARENTS responsible for their lack of guidance. THIS trap, is the life mode 'chassis' that was designed for us! (and oh yeah...its waaaay deeper than than what im saying on the surface!)
We fall for any banana in the tail pipe shit that is thrown at us. The issue is US! The issue is men that make babies that they have no INTENTION on caring for! These children usually grow up without the god intended guidance of a man!
The issue is woman who teach their daughters to "get that money!"
The issue is a race that has been duped into thinking that a gucci purse is more important than starting a savings/checking account for their children.
That billboard told an uncomfortable truth! We love to dish our opinions on celebrities and life, but HATE IT when a truth is put in front of our faces!
Racially insensitive? Maybe. WE do racially insensitive shit to each other as a people everyday, and i barely see the liberal minded 'we are the world' people making a stand against the evil that lies within our own walls.
Let's be clear! I-DONT-LIKE-THE-BILLBOARD, BUT I AGREE WITH IT BEING UP LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO CREATE THE DIALOUGE THAT WE ARE HAVING NOW!
I am not a talker who doesnt walk the walk. I have been a youth counselor, and STILL counsel many young dudes, and try to lead them in a straight path.
I have given my time to shelters, and coached urban youths in sports to try to save them from these streets.
I have been a big brother for many young sistas that have never had a manly influence in their lives(COUSIN ED has done this as well)
I try to deal with SOLUTIONS! The funny thing about 'stats', is that 'stat' people rarely offer solutions! lol!
We rush to stats that indicate that one demographic does more of one thing than another...but forget to add how we can actually FIX the damn issue!
Drastic times call for drastic measures, and this billboard served a bigger purpose than just some evil white folks putting blacks on blast!
For instance. Learning of this show has prompted us to prepare a teen pregnancy and abortion show. In that show, we will give you some 'stats', but we will offer more SOLUTIONS!
Great topic, great responses!
Just remember this: By giving out 'stats' about other races, we DO accomplish letting people know the truth, but by feeling triumph in our 'stats', we take the focus off of OUR issues...and we fail.
Lets be marines/army in our quest to help out our young fam! The marines/army come in to kick ass, get dirty, risk their lives, and pave the way for other tactical operations that need to be done.
Talk, and sometimes 'stats'...are cheap.
semper fi .
"near the end of times, more and more, the sane will be made to look INSANE, and the knowers of the truth shall be deemed incompetent, conspiracy possessed, and haters of their own kind"
Moody(2005)
classychick1 said:
I felt compelled to respond to this forum, because it’s finally not on the sexually topic!
How could some of us be so one-sided/ simpleminded? How could one NOT understand the anger from the black community…? They have every right to feel those ads are detrimental to the black community.
“The MOST DANGEROUS place for an AFRICAN AMERICAN is in the WOMB” SMMFH, CTFU.
I’m not Ignorant to the "quote" The implication is clear, they feel we are in the process of total "genocide"!
I feel the ads are ambiguous and deliver the wrong message, but I can also say as hurtful as they are, there may be a hidden message behind the ads that bear some truth. To me, this ad, in its simplest form is implying that black women are incapable of giving birth to healthy and productive children.
It’s has nothing to do with “US” black being sensitive… Yes there’s something sinister and even systematic going on. I agree something must be done but ultimately ITS NOT JUST "US"! So why single out one?
Why don’t we take timeout and look to see whether or not they (WE) REPORTING all of these abortions to the State. The last time I check the CDC doing these reports DO NOT include the stats of MIDDLE and RICH class white girls/women who go into private doctors (it clearly state public) office near their schools when they get knock up (as a matter a fact, I’ve had a few friend where their mother have a personal saving for the oops factor)… The statistics then get slanted to the point where it only report Latinos and black women having babies or aborting at a much higher rate… let’s keep the sh!t 100% white women still have the most abortions, even the CDC stated that!
In 2004, 60% of all abortions were by white women; however, because "we minorities" make up a smaller percent of the overall national population, it seemed we were having the most abortion (again because of the ratio).
For 2005, the highest percentages of reported abortions were for women who were known to be unmarried (81%), white (53%), and aged <25 years (50%); that's more than half of the overall!
I'm just saying!!
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5713a1.htm
http://www.lifenews.com/2009/11/25/nat-5707/
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