Tara Wicker, a Louisiana councilwoman and anti-abortion advocate, shares how her personal abortion experience shaped her views. Lakeesha Harris, a doula advocating for abortion access, discusses her journey from unplanned pregnancy to activism. They explore the harsh realities of abortion access in Louisiana, especially for Black women. The conversation highlights their contrasting responses to motherhood, community support, and the emotional complexities surrounding reproductive rights, emphasizing resilience and personal agency amid political challenges.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Lakeesha's Teenage Pregnancy
Lakeesha Harris got pregnant at 16 while working at McDonald's and dating her high school boyfriend.
She felt scared and unprepared, fearing she'd repeat her mother's struggles with poverty.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tara's Teenage Pregnancy
Tara Wicker's first sexual experience at 16 resulted in an unexpected pregnancy.
Initially experiencing severe pain and sickness, a doctor's visit confirmed her pregnancy.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Impact on Black Women
Louisiana's abortion ban disproportionately affects Black women, the largest demographic seeking abortions.
The podcast follows two Black women with opposing views on abortion access.
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The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary consists of eight novels that follow the adventures and growth of Ramona Quimby and her family. The series explores themes of childhood, family dynamics, and personal development, offering relatable and engaging stories for young readers.
The Baby-Sitters Club
Ann M. Martin
In 'The Baby-Sitters Club,' Ann M. Martin introduces readers to Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill, who form a baby-sitting club to earn money and help their community. The book follows their adventures, friendships, and the challenges they face as young entrepreneurs. The series is known for its relatable characters, realistic storylines, and positive themes.
Killing the black body
Dorothy E. Roberts
This book chronicles the war against Black reproduction from slavery to the present day, exposing America’s systemic abuse of Black women’s bodies. It covers topics such as the economic stake in enslaved women’s fertility, government programs that coerced sterilization, and the criminalization of parenting by poor Black women. Roberts argues for a new standard of 'liberty' and 'equality' based on social and individual justice, emphasizing the need for government to foster these values.
CHARLOTTE'S WEB
E. B. White
Charlotte's Web, written by E.B. White, is a timeless children's classic that tells the story of Wilbur, a pig, and Charlotte, a spider, who form an unlikely friendship. The story is set on a farm and revolves around the efforts of Charlotte to save Wilbur from being slaughtered. Through their relationship, the book explores themes of friendship, courage, self-sacrifice, and the natural cycle of life and death. The novel is known for its vivid depiction of farm life and its ability to address complex emotions and themes in a way that is accessible to children. The book has been widely acclaimed and has sold over 45 million copies worldwide since its publication in 1952.
This episode contains strong language and descriptions of an abortion.
With the end of Roe v. Wade, Louisiana has become one of the most difficult places in the United States to get an abortion. The barriers are expected to disproportionately affect Black women, the largest group to get abortions in the state.
Today, we speak to Tara Wicker and Lakeesha Harris, two women in Louisiana whose lives led them to very different positions in the fight over abortion access.
Background reading:
The Supreme Court decision to reverse Roe, far from settling the matter, has kindled court and political battles that are likely to go on for years.
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