In this engaging discussion, Loretta J. Ross, a pioneering reproductive justice activist and founder of SisterSong, reveals her journey in activism since the 1970s. She emphasizes the importance of solidarity in social movements, particularly for marginalized communities. The conversation dives into intersections of race, power, and the historical influences of reproductive rights. Loretta also critiques call-out culture, advocating for unity and empathy as essential tools for effective activism, reminding us that joy and connection can drive meaningful change.
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Loretta's Journey into Activism
Loretta J. Ross shares her personal journey into activism, starting with a teenage pregnancy in 1968.
Her experiences with a flawed healthcare system and societal pressures led her to advocate for reproductive justice.
insights INSIGHT
Personal Experience Fuels Activism
Loretta J. Ross's personal experiences deeply influence her activism work.
Her fight is for young girls lacking reproductive and sexual autonomy, a struggle she finds harder now than in the past.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Accidental Activism
Ross's activism began unexpectedly when she faced eviction from her apartment.
This led to her involvement in housing rights and later, through Nakenji Ture, in the D.C. Rape Crisis Center.
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In this traditional Gothic novella, Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is dispatched to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs. Alice Drablow and sort through her papers. Upon arriving, he encounters a mysterious and menacing ghost, the Woman in Black, whose appearances are linked to tragic events involving children. The story unfolds through Kipps' recollections, detailing his descent into fear and his determination to uncover the dark secrets behind the ghost's hauntings. The novella is renowned for its atmospheric setting, vivid descriptions of the desolate marshland, and the psychological tension built through suggestion rather than explicit horror[2][3][4].
Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice
Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice
Loretta J. Ross
Reproductive Justice: An Introduction
Loretta J. Ross
Rickie Solinger
This book provides a comprehensive yet succinct description of the field of reproductive justice. Written by Loretta J. Ross and Rickie Solinger, it centers on the lives and lived experiences of women of color and uses a human rights analysis to differentiate reproductive justice from the traditional pro-choice/anti-abortion debates. The authors argue that reproductive justice is a political movement that encompasses reproductive rights and social justice, highlighting the complex structural obstacles faced by women, particularly those who are low-income, physically disabled, and living in marginalized communities. The book emphasizes the three primary values of reproductive justice: the right not to have a child, the right to have a child, and the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments.
Since the 1970s, Loretta J. Ross has been an instrumental activist in the fight for 'Reproductive Justice', a framework she and her colleagues created in 1994 that went beyond the pro-choice and pro-life debate. She has worked as the Director of the Women of Color Program for the National Organization for Women, the program director of the Black Women's Health Imperative the director of projects for the National Anti-Klan Network, and is an author and professor as well.Today Loretta will share some of her prolific personal and political journey and what it has taught her about the importance of solidarity, about how we create a strong movement genuinely dedicated to working together even when it's difficult to do.
Take a class, buy a book, and learn more about Loretta J. Ross at lorettajross.com
American Hysteria 
