Civil Rights and the Unborn

Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy to America. On January 22, we remember the anniversary of two infamous U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton.

Abortion is the number one civil rights issue in America. After all it denies unborn human beings their most fundamental right - their right to life. Because African Americans have been targeted by Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry, abortion has impacted the African American community in disproportionate numbers - in fact with genocidal results. (e.g. 61.5% of PP’s abortion clinics are located in predominately Black communities - see www.toomanyaborted.com and www.maafa21.com)

In 1977, four years after Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton legalized abortion, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson spoke prophetically when he asked two questions, 

“What happens to the mind of a person, and the moral fabric of a nation, that accepts the aborting of the life of a baby without a pang of conscience? What kind of a person, and what kind of a society will we have 20 years hence if life can be taken so casually.”

The answer to those questions have emerged over the last thirty nine years, and regrettably it has not not turned out as then pro-life advocate Jesse Jackson would have envisioned. Over fifty million American unborn children have lost their lives to abortion, 16 million of them African American.

Andrew Bair, in his article, “What Would Martin Luther King, Jr. Have Thought of Abortion?” (http://www.lifenews.com/2012/01/16/what-would-martin-luther-king-jr-have-thought-of-abortion/) points out that, 

"Recently released data from the New York City Department of Health shows the Big Apple hitting a 40% abortion rate. As if that number wasn’t appalling enough, when the data is broken down all racial lines, around 60% percent of New York City’s abortions are done on black women. In other words, 1,448 African American babies are aborted for every 1,000 born. Among black teens in New York City, that number jumps to a staggering 72% abortion rate or 2,360 abortions for every 1,000 babies born...in Pennsylvania, the Department of Health has reported that in the city of Philadelphia nearly half of all black babies are aborted. Center for Disease Control data shows that since Roe vs. Wade (1973) abortion has been the leading cause of death among African Americans. More African Americans have lost their lives to abortion than to heart disease, cancer, accidents, violent crimes or AIDS- combined."   

There is no greater risk to the future of the African American community than the death of their unborn through abortion. As the Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr. (www.blackgenocide.com) has written,

“The most dangerous place for an African American to be is in the womb of their African American mother.” 

Because of abortion, death now outpaces life in America’s Black population. Black America is the only minority declining in number.

Why are the vast majority of Black politicians and clergy remaining silent in light of this genocide? Why is there such great support in the Black community for politicians who support state sanctioned killing of the unborn and the funding of Planned Parenthood with federal tax dollars?  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said,

“In the end we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

The Scriptures speak to us regarding our responsibility to rescue the unborn and the consequence if we neglect to do so:

“If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great.
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death;
Don’t stand back and let them die.
Don’t try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it.
For God knows all hearts, and he sees you.
He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew!
And he will judge all people according to what they have done.”

Proverbs 24:10-12 NLT (emphasis mine)

Over fifty percent of women who have an abortion feel they have no alternative. This is a complex issue that demands a practical and compassionate response by the Church.

Rev. Walter Hoye II, (www.issues4life.org) spent over two weeks in jail for sharing the Gospel in front of an Oakland CA abortion clinic. His words encapsulate the urgent need to respond to the threat of Black Genocide,

“I can’t quit, my people are dying.                                                                                                

Ending abortion is a matter of survival now.   

Our future depends on meeting the needs of women and children now.”

In October of 2008, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Herb Lusk II, African American Pastor of Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia, address the annual CareNet conference. Just days before giving the address, under his leadership, Greater Exodus opened a pregnancy resource center in their abortion clinic ridden neighborhood. I will never forget his words,

“If you don’t do anything about the horrors of abortion you’re not part of the solution, which means that you’re part of the problem...as long as a baby is in danger we’re in war. As long as the life of one infant is threatened, the war rages on.”

German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was hung naked with a piano wire in a Nazi concentration camp for his opposition to the holocaust, wrote these haunting words,

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Pastor Walter Hoye, comments,

“Could it possibly be, that Dietrich Bonhoeffer is right and out silence in the face of evil betrays our collusion, complicity or tacit consent with the forces of evil?”

That is the question each of us must answer - either now - or later.

Rev. Jim McGarvey is head of Church For Life through which he is serves the Church in its response to America’s abortion crisis as it: 

communicates the message of the sanctity of human life; 

ministers healing and restoration to the post-abortive; 

and provides practical and compassionate help to those at risk for abortion.

For the last four years his ministry focus has been in the African American community,  alerting clergy of Black Genocide and seeking to assist the Church in its response to this life threatening epidemic.

He is available as a speaker and consultant. 

Contact him at 954-235-3482 or at parson02@bellsouth.net