The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has far-reaching implications for both women and our society. For Black women, who continue to face the highest levels of health disparities, including among the highest maternal mortality rates globally, the consequences are even more dire. Upending women’s rights to make choices about their bodies has a direct impact on their health, education and career choices, and overall wellbeing.
For decades, women – including Black women – have been key drivers in the upward mobility of our nation from voting rights to labor, education, and health reforms because of their ability to make choices about every aspect of their lives.
At Spelman, on the first night that our students arrive, we quote to them the words of the radical black feminist, Anna Julia Cooper, who, born a slave, became a champion for women, education, and the role of Black women as leaders of their communities. Looking back at how hard she fought reminds me that our struggles are long and hard and, very often, must be fought over and over.
Keep the Faith,
Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. President, Spelman College
