Protecting Black Life

Summary

What is the number one killer of African Americans? The first time Shannon Nixson was asked this question she did not think the answer would be abortion. As a community counselor to many women in her home city, Shannon was very aware of the prevalence of abortion among young African American women. Not until recently was she aware of the threatening reality that legalized abortion is taking the lives of an estimated 438 thousand black babies each year.

According to the US Center for Disease Control, and the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which is the research arm for Planned Parenthood, more African American babies have been killed by abortion than the combined number of deaths from any other cause. Since the legalization of abortion in 1973, there are over 14 million black babies missing from society. African American women make up 13% of the total population in America, but they are having 37% of the abortions.

In 2004 the CDC reported 287,315 deaths in the African American community. Add to that the 438,000 annual abortions; and the deaths are at 725,315. Now take the 616,074 births in 2004 as reported by the CDC and subtract the total number of deaths. Simple calculations show that the African American community experienced an estimated human deficit of 109,241 lives in 2004. The Urban Outreach Director at Life Issues Institute, Arnold Culbreath, compares this deficit in the African American population to a bank account. If an individual is withdrawing more money than he or she is depositing eventually their bank account will be at a zero balance.

Dr. Alveda King, Pastoral Associate with Priests for Life, and the niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speaks out against abortion from a personal experience. As a woman who has felt the pressure to get an abortion in the past, she understands that a woman has a choice to do what she wants with her own body. However, she continues by saying, the developing baby has a life of its own; a life that should be protected.

When it comes to this topic Dr. King, Arnold Culbreath, and Shannon Nixson all agree the public must be informed and educated. This is the only way to shift the current statistics surrounding the rapid death of African Americans.