There is no Planned Parenthood without Black leadership, and especially without the leadership of Black women.

That was true in 1978, when Faye Wattleton became the first Black president and CEO of Planned Parenthood. She led this organization for nearly fifteen years and inspired a generation of leaders in the movement for reproductive rights.

It's true today, as Black women continue to lead the way -- as organizers and activists, as medical staff and educators, all the way to our current president and CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson.

Black women will continue to drive Planned Parenthood into a future that is more equitable, more inclusive, more just.

With creativity and ingenuity, Black women ensure that we remember and respect the past, while envisioning and leading us into a more equitable future -- a future where everyone has access to health care, control over their bodies, and racial and gender justice are not just ideals, but a reality. As Planned Parenthood celebrates Black History Month, we honor that leadership.

We also remember something essential and unavoidable in American culture. As is so often the case when we confront injustice, Black women lead the fight for reproductive freedom because there is no other choice.

Black patients face ongoing discrimination in health care. When restrictions are placed on birth control and family planning, Black communities bear a disproportionate burden. The current wave of abortion bans, like the ones in Texas and Mississippi, are designed to target Black people who can become pregnant. It should also be noted that these laws are mostly passed by white men.

Nobody knows the consequences of restrictions to sexual and reproductive health and rights better than Black women. But every one of us shares in the duty to overcome that injustice.

Sexual and reproductive health equity are at the center of Planned Parenthood's mission. As health care providers and educators, we continually strive to see, hear, and learn from Black women, earn their trust, and offer the supportive services they deserve -- no matter what.

We are proud of the impact and legacy that Black women have had -- and continue to have -- on Planned Parenthood. We honor and celebrate the leadership of Black women in this movement and so many others. And we urge everyone in the Planned Parenthood community to do their part to respect that leadership, support those efforts, and contribute to necessary change.

In the coming days, we'll be sharing ways you can support Black-led reproductive justice efforts. Thank you for being a part of this work.

-Planned Parenthood

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