On 50th Anniversary of Landmark Abortion Decision, Legality Alone Isn’t Enough

bodies and futures.

By Marc Morial

“Overturning Roe and outlawing abortions will never make them go away. It only makes them more dangerous, especially for the poor and marginalized. People will die because of this decision. And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America.”

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Fifty years ago, women across the country celebrated the infamous Roe v. Wade decision that recognized the constitutional right for people to have an abortion. Now, after decades of scheming, right-wing politicians finally have forced their unpopular agenda on the rest of America. They have decided that the government — not pregnant people and their doctors — should make a private health care decision and deny women the right to control their own

Since the Supreme Court made its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization last June, nearly half the states in the country have either outlawed abortion services or placed heavy restrictions around abortion access. This decision put important health care decisions out of the reach of millions of women and violated their right to decide what happens to their own bodies. Access to safe abortion services have proven over time to discourage women from exploring unsafe methods to end their pregnancies, a reality that has mostly impacted Black women and women in underserved communities.

Black women are four times more likely to die as a result of childbirth than white women, according to American Medical Association. Meanwhile, due to racialized income and wealth disparities, inequitable access to medical care, and the other insidious ways manifestations of structural racism, people of color are more likely to require abortion care and but are less likely to be able to afford out-of-state travel to obtain care if it is outlawed in their state.

Forcing women to carry preg- higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

The Bible reminds us of why friendships are important:

• If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

• One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)

The antidote to loneliness is connection—not superficial relationships, but those that allow you to be yourself where you can be vulnerable and safe. Seek good, Godly, reciprocal friendships that are life giving. Your very existence depends upon it.

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is an author of three books and the host of The Tapestry podcast. To listen to episodes of the podcast, visit https:// www.spreaker.com/show/the-tapestry_1 and to learn more about her work, go to https://drfroswa.com/

NFL no Black coaches in 1973, two in 2023

Our Voices

By A. Peter Bailey

When reading or hearing about the extremely limited number of Black head coaches in the National Football League (NFL), I remember an article entitled “Where are the Black Coaches?” in the December 1973 issue of Ebony Magazine.

Under the title it stated that “No Blacks lead professional teams; only five have been selected as assistants.”

The article reported that “This year in the National Football League, 198 coaches are coaching, approximately 1,118 players. While some 435 players are Black, not a single Black is listed among the 26 head coaches in the League and only 5 Blacks are among the League’s 172 assistant coaches.

They are Emlen Tunnell of the New York Giants, Willie Wood of the San Diego Chargers, Lionel Taylor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Al Labor of the Cleveland Browns and Earnell Durden of the Houston Oilers.”

Fifty years later the question asked by Ebony Magazine still hasn’t been answered. In the January 11, 2023 issue of The Washington Post, included an article, “The NFL is Down to Two Black Coaches.

‘A closed fraternity’ nancies against their will can have devastating and lasting consequences for them and their family and push women and families deeper into poverty. Our health care system already fails Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, and barriers to abortion care make that worse.

As we continue to navigate this crisis, we must not settle for legality. Legality alone will not ensure everyone can get the abortion care they need. We must aim for abortion justice and fight for that justice in our communities, city halls, state legislatures, in Congress, and the White House. We need bold solutions like the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify the right to an abortion into federal law and ensure all pregnant persons can make personal health decisions without government interference. So, this weekend, the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision, we stand with all women in solidarity in the fight to protect women’s rights. The devastating decision to overturn Roe will reverberate for future generations of women and girls who would need access to such an essential service. Abortion access is an economic and racial justice issue, and I am proud to say that the National Urban League will continue to fight for the reproductive rights of women and the civil rights of all of us.

The 1973 Ebony article included comments by two former Black players, Gayle Sayers, a great backfield star with the Chicago Bears and previously mentioned Emlen Tunnell. Sayers was recorded as saying that “Coaching is a closed fraternity.”

Owners and general managers usually hire friends for a head coaching post. But I don’t think racism has anything to do with it.”

Tunnell, the first Black player for the New York Giants, was quoted as saying that “The color of one’s skin shouldn’t be used to measure the wealth of a man, but it will for the rest of our lifetimes.”

One question today is how many 2023 Black NFL players share the positions attributed fifty years ago to Sayers and Tunnell. Another question is whether they have the me, myself and I attitude expressed by too many Black folks today.

If today’s Black NFL players do share the positions attributed to Sayers and Tunnell a question about the lack of Black head coaches will still be relevant fifty years from now. On the other hand, if the players work together and are backed by serious Black folks that question will be irrelevant.