Coming Home

In the uproar this past week over the Life Always billboard in New York City, carrying the message that the most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb, the most common denunciation was that the billboard was “racist.”

But was it?

In fairness, it’s understandable how the person on the street, looking at the billboard, could have come away with that understanding. The billboard presented a conclusion without first presenting the argument. Absent the staggering numbers that lead to the conclusion, the general public were left with a sign that could seem both racist and misogynistic to the uninformed. That’s a powerful lesson for our side.

Perhaps in the future, a billboard that states:

“With 60% of NYC African American pregnancies ending in abortion, our most unsafe place is in the womb.”

That presents the staggering statistics, the conclusion, and a voice that is black folk talking to black folk. It’s unambiguous.

However, that will never stop the race-baiters like Al Sharpton from coming out in opposition to the message, and still claiming racism—which leads to another can of worms.

It isn’t racist to point out the inequities between groups of people, such as the frightening rates of STD’s among blacks compared to all other groups. The same for abortion, poverty, single-parent households, etc. Indeed, how can society be expected to respond compassionately and effectively if the problem cannot be articulated for fear of being branded a racist? Pointing to glaring inequalities has always been the first, and necessary step in eradicating the forces that keep groups of people down.

Demography is a science that tells the unvarnished truth. There is no political correctness in accurate statistics. Indeed, when we need to modify an absolute term like “correct” with a modifier like “political”, the truth becomes the first casualty. Therefore, an accurate telling of the demographics is the first step in ascertaining what is wrong.

In the case of abortion and communities of color, a more enlightened political leadership might call for and fund a study of women seeking abortions and the reasons. From such a study, it might become evident that low-income women feel a need for abortion based on economic pressures, and that the Pregnancy Resource Center model may well have a good part of the answer. Government might actually work to reduce the frequency of abortion through the initiation of services that encourage and facilitate education, job skills and training, parenting classes, and other life skills. By standing up young women and men, encouraging parenthood, and facilitating mature behavior, society rescues them from a life of perpetual adolescence.

It used to be called liberalism.

Revealing scientific truth with an eye toward ameliorating the underlying stressors that give rise to skewed incidences of pathology is not racist. It is the realization of scientific investigation’s noblest goal, which is the discovery of truth for the betterment of humanity. All humanity.

To be selective in the revelation and the application of that knowledge in a way that ignores the most disenfranchised is the most malignant form of racism:

Ice Cold Indifference.