The End Of Roe v. Wade Would Be A Disaster For Black Mothers

This article is part of a larger series titled “The End Of Roe.” Head here to When a draft decision that would fully overturn Roe v. Wade and end abortion access for millions of women leaked in early May, Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the decision, had a curious and inflammatory aside. Black women in the U.S. already face a dismal maternal death rate, and studies have shown that restricting abortion access will lead to a surge in pregnancy deaths. “Forcing people to remain pregnant can kill them.” - Amanda Stevenson, professor at the University of Colorado Boulder Even though anti-choice activists and conservative leaders say their crusade to end legal abortion stems from so-called pro-life beliefs, there doesn’t seem to be any concern for the lives of pregnant people. “And a lot of that is rooted in health equity and racism.” The worsening Black maternal death rate isn’t something that is set in stone, but rather a result of policy choices. “Forcing people to remain pregnant can kill them.” The fall of Roe would mean that in states where abortion is illegal, health care providers who are trying to save pregnant patients’ lives could also have to deal with strict policies that are made by lawmakers rather than based on science.