Honoring the History and Legacy of Black History Month

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is proud to celebrate Black History Month and stand with Black communities in the fight to protect their bodies, rights, and futures.

Addressing the barriers to care that Black communities face, examining how white supremacy of the past and present continues in our institutions today, and supporting and amplifying the work of Black organizations and leaders is an ongoing, necessary endeavor. Standing with Black Americans means taking action every day — not just one month of the year. Acknowledging the racist history of the reproductive rights movement and of our organization, there is an ever greater urgency to show up for Black communities’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and also fight for racial justice by partnering with Black-led organizations and leaders every day throughout the year.

Join us in learning, growing, making space for Black organizations and leaders, and supporting Black-led organizations locally and nationally, together. 

1. Learn the racist history of the reproductive rights movement and reproductive health care. Understand the racist history of gynecology, which included testing on enslaved women without anesthesia and without consent. Learn the history of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman whose cells were used without her permission for medical experiments. Make sure her contributions to modern medicine are never forgotten. Know about the longstanding racial bias in health care — which has resulted in the dismissal of Black women’s symptoms, the myth that Black patients can’t feel pain, and high Black maternal mortality rates.
2. Stand with organizations fighting for reproductive justice and amplify their work Founded by Black women 25 years ago, the reproductive justice movement includes the right to parent and calls upon the broader reproductive rights movement to understand the unique obstacles of Black motherhood. Reproductive justice advocates push the reproductive rights movement to move beyond a framework of personal decision making, and work on the systemic level to prioritize accessibility. Planned Parenthood is a reproductive rights organization, and we are committed to standing with and lifting the work of our reproductive justice partners.
3. Support Black-led organizations locally and nationally who are unwavering in their commitment to ensure that all Black people — regardless of income, location, sexual orientation, abilities, or immigration status — can be with their families and parent their children.⁣ Join us in donating to, following, and becoming a member of Black-led organizations in Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, and New Mexico which are deeply involved in reproductive justice work.

Here are a few organizations fighting to protect Black bodily autonomy in our region and at the national level. This list is not exhaustive, and we are committed to building relationships and learning about organizations championing reproductive justice. 

Colorado: Soul 2 Soul Sisters 
Nevada: PLAN
New Mexico: New Mexico Central Black Organizing Committee 
National: Black Mammas Matter Alliance

Thank you for continuing to stand with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and for standing with our partners leading the fight for reproductive justice. We look forward to learning and growing alongside you this month and every month of the year. We have a lot of work to do to advance equity and justice in our fight for reproductive rights, but we are grateful to do so alongside incredible activists and supporters like you.

In solidarity,
Vicki Cowart,
President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains