Stop cancelling the Black-Ass South! 😤
Welcome to the 43rd installment of This Black-Ass Life. Y’all, we feel like yelling about the increased talk of abandoning the Black-ass South and Midwest because of abortion bans. So buckle up for an angry but hopefully informative newsletter!
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l. The Facts
Starting this spring, a scary wave of new state laws that only allow abortions to be performed early in pregnancy started being passed across the Midwest and the South. In response, celebrities and businesses, mainly Hollywood, are threatening to boycott or are boycotting these states.
Nine U.S. states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Utah) have passed laws of this type, with Alabama being the most extreme and many more states are considering similar legislation.
In Georgia primarily, NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia, AMC, CBS, Showtime, Sony Pictures, and Disney, are all reevaluating their presence in the state if the law isn’t defeated in court.
Celebrities including Tiffany Haddish, Alyssa Milano, Kristen Wiig, Judd Apatow, and many others have boycotted these states by promising not to film or perform there.
A quick scan of social media and commentary also pulls up countless people cheering on these decisions made by Hollywood and vowing themselves to not contribute to these states through tourism or other means.
Why does it matter?
The vast majority of Black people in the U.S. are in the South. Don’t abandon Black organizers and punish Black people economically.
We’re experiencing this anti-choice wave specifically because of our failure to pay attention to Black women organizers in the first place, and the solution is not to again turn our backs on them.
Boycotting states costs jobs that especially go to Black-ass people. It will also literally turn states Redder.
We already have a case study on how ineffective abandoning a state is in North Carolina:
Black poverty, especially Black rural poverty, is so specifically cruel. Please don’t cost them jobs.
What can my Black ass do?
Go to the South! Seriously, Black businesses in Charleston, Durham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Jackson, Montgomery and many other Southern cities need our tourist dollars. The South is the bedrock of Black history and Black life in America. These are some of the very first places Black people walked in America and they are sacred. When we choose to actively abandon the South because some bumblefuck White politicians decide on a rubbish law, we are abandoning Black people and the ancestors. Point. Blank. Period.
Also, progressives north of the Mason Dixon need to stop acting like the South is some sort of politically monolithic hellscape. Some of the most creative, energetic organizing and social justice work is happening in the South today, as it did over 40 years ago during the Civil Rights Movement.
Check out just a few: SONG, Project South, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Poor People’s Campaign and Dream Defenders.
Donate to support abortions without borders.
If you can’t give your money, give your time.
Follow the cash. These public charities and corporations helped fund abortion bans.
ll. Other Things
Ugh, everything is making us mad.
We are so very happy that the racist prosecutors who railroaded the Central Park 5 are getting their comeuppance, but no amount of money, no amount of social media scorn, no amount of coverage will ever make it better for these men and their families. The ripple effect of the devastation that happened in New York City due to the state’s actions is beyond unquantifiable.
For the love of God, please please stop telling women that they will be less economically viable because they get pregnant. Yes, City Girls are straight up homophobes, but these anti-women sentiments permeate our entire society. Yung Miami is a working mother just like other child-bearing people across the U.S. who lose money and opportunity due to pregnancy.
A quick FU to the framing of this White LaKeisha story and also to Rachel Dolezal.
Ugh, ever since I (Jumoke) learned that he enjoys chatting up teenagers, I find everything about Drake insufferable. But yay Canadians!
We are not really that mad about this, but the U.S. women's soccer team beating Thailand 13-0 was just plain mean. But also PAY THEM, U.S. Soccer! At least like you pay the men, but honestly pay them more because they are actually good.
A moment for Sudan:
Check out this article for a list of organizations to donate to and suggestions for how to reach your representative.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (Jumoke):
Continuing our dedication to the American South. Shouts to Big Krit and my all-time favorite song from a Southern rapper.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) look forward to seeing my best friend graduate from her residency program as a surgeon this Friday!! Really, it’s kind of like I’m graduating since I’ve been friends with her this whole time, so you all can start calling me Dr. B.
I (Mitu) look forward to looping Missy’s music all week in celebration of her becoming the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. WHERE IS HER VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD, MTV?!
lll. So. many. big. words.
Never change, Nollywood.
Stay Black, thrive and travel to the South & Midwest. We’ll hit your inbox next on July 1.