Black Reproductive Justice

On June 15, 2021, the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda was released. More than 30 Black Women’s organizations and Reproductive Justice activists came together to create this important document which addresses issues at the intersections of race, gender, class, sexual orientation and gender identity within the situational impacts of economics, politics and culture. L. Joy brings Marcela Howell and Dazon Dixon Diallo to the front of the class to give us a lesson on Reproductive Justice and share the fine points of this agenda. 

Our Guest

Marcela Howell is an advocate and policy strategist, who is recognized for her expertise in strategic communications, leadership development and policy forecasting. With over 35 years of experience advocating for women’s rights, reproductive justice and women’s empowerment, she is devoted to enhancing the role of Black women in national policy debates. She spends her time working on the health, economic stability and empowerment of women and girls. Marcela is also the President of Wise women Consultants, LLC, a woman-based policy and communications consulting firm.

She is currently the founder and strategic director of the National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda.

For the last six years, she has also been a senior consultant on communications and policy for Communications Consortium Media Center. At CCMC, she consults on a variety of domestic and international policy issues, including reproductive justice, family planning, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health disparities, economic development, and domestic violence.

She is the author of Walk in My Shoes: A Black Activists' Guide to Surviving the Women's Movement.

Dazon Dixon Diallo is the Executive Director of SisterLove is a 25 year-old, Atlanta-based, reproductive justice organization with a focus on sexual health and prevention/care, including HIV, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy and violence. We work at the intersections of Black women’s lives and we work to change the policy frame from defending women’s choices to asserting women’s agency to make decisions that are best for themselves and their families.

Homework:

Read the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda. https://blackrj.org/in-our-own-voice-national-black-womens-reproductive-justice-agenda-releases-black-reproductive-justice-policy-agenda/