At the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), we seek to create a world that we have not yet seen but dare to hope for—a world free from injustice and oppression, where all people can thrive. In doing this work, in doing any social justice work, we must be firmly grounded in an antiracist framework. Antiracism is not simply the absence of racial prejudice, but ideologies and actions that directly counter it.
Racism is deeply embedded in our history, our institutions, our systems, our relationships, and our very selves. The history of racism and reproductive oppression in the United
States reveals how intimately woven together they are; they are inextricable from each other. Today it is most apparent when we look at which groups are most impacted by
abortion restrictions and bans, and who suffers most from poor maternal and infant health outcomes. But throughout history it’s also been present in forced sterilization, forced
procreation, systemic rape, family separation, and more. To be a woman or birthing person of color, particularly Black or Indigenous, is to live at the intersection of racism, misogyny, and
reproductive oppression.
We cannot achieve reproductive freedom without racial justice, and we cannot achieve racial justice without reproductive freedom. As it is RCRC’s sacred work to honor human dignity,
agency, and flourishing, we pledge our organizational commitment to antiracism with these measures:
- ● Building plurality and accessibility into our work at a cellular level (this applies to race, gender, religion, and more)
● Interrogating white and Christian supremacy throughout all dimensions of our organization
● Partnering with and lifting up groups that represent Black and other minority communities
● Maintaining a staff and board that is racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse
● Holding a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) audit to ensure that we are fully realizing our antiracist goals
These are just the beginning steps and not the end. The work of challenging racism will require dedicated effort, recurring self-evaluation, and accountability. We look forward to doing this work in community with you all.