30 YEARS AGO…

In July 1994, twelve Black women attended a national conference held in Illinois for state pro-choice coalitions. Sponsored by the Ms. Foundation for Women, the conference included a presentation from former President William J. Clinton’s administration on a proposed plan for universal health care reform. Much to the conference participants’ dismay, the plan lacked coverage for a plethora of reproductive and sexual health care services, including abortion care. Conference discussions quickly became focused on abortion access.

The twelve Black women in attendance at the conference became frustrated with the pointed focus on abortion coverage in the health care plan and little to no attention to the vast reproductive and sexual health concerns of Black women. While the women believed abortion was an important and vital health care service to which all women and pregnant capable persons needed access, they also knew that Black women and pregnant-capable persons were faced with numerous other reproductive and sexual health disparities, such as higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, fibroids, various reproductive tract infections like HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, and infertility. These twelve Black women firmly believed that true healthcare for Black women needed to encompass the full range of reproductive and sexual health care, including abortion.

Our Founding Mothers

Toni M. Bond, PhD

Loretta Ross

‘Able’ Mable Thomas

Cynthia Newbille, PhD

Reverend Alma Crawford

Evelyn S. Field (Deceased)

Terri James

Winnette P. Willis

Bisola Marignay, PhD

Cassandra McConnell

Elizabeth Terry

Kim Youngblood

Standing at the brink of a pivotal political moment, these Black women coined the term “Reproductive Justice” (RJ) and strategically organized and mobilized Black women throughout the U.S. around a policy issue that has profoundly changed the lives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color working on issues of reproductive and sexual health.

These twelve Black women are now known as the “Founding Mothers of Reproductive Justice!”