Where to start on reproductive rights: what we’ve written, the numbers and words to know, what to do this month, and the people, organizations and newsrooms worth following.
The Basics
Overview Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, access to abortion depends on where you live, and Black, Latina and Indigenous people are hit hardest by the bans. Reproductive justice goes further than abortion: it is the right to have children, to not have children and to raise them in safe communities. Black women created that framework, and women of color still lead the fight.
By the Numbers
Why this matters, in three numbers.
In 2024, Black women died of maternal causes at a rate of 44.8 per 100,000 live births, about three times the rate for white women (14.2). (CDC National Center for Health Statistics)
About 5.5 million Black women, more than half (54%) of Black women in the U.S., live in the 22 states where abortion is banned or under threat. (National Partnership for Women & Families)
Medicaid pays for more than two-thirds of births to Black women. (KFF)
Reproductive Justice — The right to have children, to not have children and to raise children in safe communities, a framework created by Black women in 1994.
Misogynoir — The specific mix of sexism and racism that Black women face.
White Feminism — Feminism that centers white women’s needs and ignores how race, class and other factors shape other women’s lives.
Take Action
Three things you can do this month.
Ask Congress to pass the Women's Health Protection Act. H.R. 12 and S. 2150 would protect the right to an abortion nationwide; both were introduced in June 2025 and are still in committee. Call your rep and senators and say: "I'm a constituent, and I want you to support the Women's Health Protection Act, H.R. 12 and S. 2150."
Give to the Yellowhammer Fund. This Black-led group in Alabama and Mississippi gives out free emergency contraception, supplies for families, and support for people seeking care. Any amount helps.
Check if abortion is on your ballot on Nov. 3. Voters in Missouri, Nevada, Virginia and Idaho will decide abortion measures this November. If you live in one of those states, read the measure now and make a plan to vote.
The toll from the Roe v. Wade reversal emphasizes that this is not just a loss of abortion access but part of a broader attack on reproductive health and bodily autonomy, with the most marginalized feeling the brunt of the attack.
These groups are led by people of color and work on reproductive rights every day. Follow them for updates and ways to help.
SisterSong Women of color collective that built the reproductive justice movement. Visit their website, and follow @sistersong_woc on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice Latina-led group fighting for abortion access and reproductive health. Visit their website, and follow @latinainstitute on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance Black women-led network working to improve Black maternal health. Visit their website, and follow @blackmamasmatter on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
People to Follow
Organizers, scholars and journalists who know this topic. Follow them to keep learning.
Loretta Ross Co-founder of SisterSong and one of the women who coined "reproductive justice". She explains where the reproductive justice movement came from and how to talk across differences without giving up your values. Follow @lorettajross on Instagram.
Renee Bracey Sherman Founder of We Testify and co-author of Liberating Abortion. She centers the stories of people who have had abortions, especially Black people and people of color. Follow @reneebraceysherman on Instagram.
Dr. Jamila Perritt OB-GYN and president of Physicians for Reproductive Health. A Black abortion provider who explains what bans mean for patients and doctors in plain terms. Follow @reprorightsdoc on Instagram.
Independent Media
Independent newsrooms and newsletters that cover reproductive rights often. Read and donate if you can!
The 19th. Nonprofit newsroom on abortion, maternal health and gender policy. Follow @19thnews on Instagram.
Ms. Magazine. Independent feminist outlet covering abortion access and reproductive rights. Follow @ms_magazine on Instagram.
Abortion, Every Day. Jessica Valenti's weekday tracker of abortion laws, court cases and the people affected. Follow @abortioneveryday on Instagram.
Read, Watch, Listen
A book, a film and a podcast by creators of color to go deeper.
Read: Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts. A history of how U.S. policy has controlled Black women's bodies, from slavery to forced sterilization and beyond.
Watch: Aftershock by Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiselt. Two families who lost young Black mothers to preventable childbirth complications push for change (streaming on Hulu).
Listen: My Body. My Pod. by Mini Timmaraju, Reproductive Freedom for All. Short interviews with organizers and lawmakers on the front lines of abortion access, with new episodes in fall 2026.
Talk About It
Not sure how to bring this up with family or coworkers? Try one of these.
Did you know Black women are about three times as likely to die from pregnancy as white women, even now?
If you or someone you love needed care during a pregnancy emergency, do you know what the law in our state allows?
What do you think it should mean to have the right to have kids, not have kids, and raise them safely?
ps – this is a community-created guide that is updated often. Want to make changes/corrections? Complete this form.
Get updates on reproductive rights in your inbox.
You’ll be subscriber No. 63,199
Welcome! We use third-party tools to collect information about you as you enjoy our site. By proceeding, you accept our Terms and the Policy.
