Planned Parenthood Celebrates Black History Month and Recommits to Fighting for Racial Justice

WASHINGTON, DC — This Black History Month, Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to celebrate and stand with Black communities in the fight to protect their bodies, rights, and futures — alongside the heroic Black women who have been leading the charge for so long. Planned Parenthood recognizes that there can be no equity without freedom and access to care that enables people to determine their own futures. We pledge to not only show up for Black communities’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights — but to fight for racial justice by partnering with reproductive justice leaders and grassroots organizations across the country.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“This Black History Month, we honor and celebrate Black women organizers, policy shapers, and influencers, by standing with them. Year round, we must continue to champion racial justice, civil rights, and reproductive freedom for all — fiercely fighting for the health and rights of Black people and working to dismantle the systems that thwart their success. As Black women continue to forge our path in the present and lead us into a better future, we owe it to them to recommit ourselves to being the providers, educators, and advocates they can trust to protect their health and rights — and to do it with joy.”

The mission of Planned Parenthood health centers is built on health equity. Every day we see, hear, respect, and learn from Black women and provide compassionate, high-quality health care and sexual and reproductive health education — no matter what. Planned Parenthood health centers provide sexual and reproductive care to over 395,000 Black patients every year, regardless of income, insurance, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or immigration status. In 2019, Planned Parenthood’s inclusive, medically accurate sex education reached over 124,000 Black people — and even more online — with culturally relevant programs.

For many Black people, reproductive freedom is out of reach. At both the state and federal levels, Planned Parenthood Action Fund is working with local Planned Parenthood organizations and other partners to fight sexual and reproductive health care policies that disproportionately harm communities of color, people with low incomes, rural communities, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community: We are advocating for the repeal of the discriminatory Hyde and Helms amendments; asking the Biden-Harris administration to rescind the domestic gag rule on the Title X program for affordable reproductive health care; an end to medically unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion, and more. We are also eager to work with Vice President Harris — as well as our reproductive justice partners — to address the alarming Black maternal mortality rate.

Throughout February, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund will center the health of Black women and honor their heritage and achievements:

• On February 4, join Instagram Live for “Journaling Your Whole Self,” a candid conversation about understanding your period and its correlation to mood, body changes, and overall mental health. This event features comedian, actress, social media influencer Angelina Spicer and the mental telehealth organization Nia Noire. 
• Throughout the month, Planned Parenthood Federation of America will sponsor weekly Instagram Live conversations hosted by MyBrownBox on sexual health and pleasure, body positivity, and self-love. Join each Friday for chats including: "Vibrators & WAP: The Key To Good P is Great Sexual Health" with Dr. Sara C. Flowers, vice president of Education and Training; "Been Fat. Been Fine. Been Free" with Nia Martin-Robinson, director of Black Leadership and Engagement; and "Radical Self-Love & Owning Your Sensuality" with Nicole Moore, director of Multicultural Brand Engagement.
• "We Decided: Now What?" on February 25 is a Planned Parenthood Action Fund virtual panel discussion on what the health and rights of the Black community look like during a Biden-Harris administration. Panelists include Jada Thompson, a student at Lincoln University; Keauna Gregory, political director of Black Futures Lab; Mondale Robinson, principal of Black Male Voter Project; and Jasmine Clemons, a Planned Parenthood patient advocate. 
• Weekly "Stand With Black Women" awards will also be presented by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund to selected lawmakers, activists, and influencers who champion reproductive freedom.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.