The Birth of a Movement

American Dreams: Reproductive Justice

Reproductive Justice was an idea birthed in 1994, by 12 Black women who felt unseen by the white establishment. We talked to two of those women, as well as women working in the Reproductive Justice space now about what RJ is and how it affects real people.

In 1994, 12 women walked into a hotel room in Chicago. They came out with a blueprint for what would become the Reproductive Justice movement.

The Mothers of Reproductive Justice - as they are known now - were the only Black women at a conference on universal health care reform held by feminist groups. The meeting took place after a presentation by someone from the Clinton Administration on their universal health care plan. The plan didn't include any coverage of reproductive health.

As Founder Toni Bond told us, "It was as if women didn't exist."

We talk to two of those 12 women - Dr. Bond and Loretta Ross. And we talk to women working in the Reproductive Justice space now about what RJ is, what needs to be in place for it to work, and how the concept of Reproductive Justice touches every aspect of our society.

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American Dreams: Reproductive Justice is co-executive produced and hosted by Erika Washington, powered by Make It Work Nevada. The podcast is co-executive produced, written, and edited by Carrie Kaufman of Overthinking Media LLC. Music by Wil Black of Black Gypsy Music. Artwork by Brent Holmes.

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In our next episode, we will set our bearings by looking at the history of reproductive INjustice in the U.S.