February 24, 2011
Dear Board of Directors at Life Always:
If you have received several letters and calls from African-American women and especially men, which I am sure you have it’s probably a good idea to consider that your organization has offended thousands if not millions of our community and to begin rectifying this issue. I demand that your Soho billboard be taken down and that you issue an apology to the African-American community.
At this point, anti-abortion and pro-choice is a moot issue. The issue is now respectful and disrespectful. These are the new issues at odds. As an “African-American” male, I was deeply offended by your advertisement with an African-American child being posted on a billboard with a sign reading “The most dangerous place for an African-American is in the womb.” That is disturbing and disrespectful. Not because of any statistics you created to shape your message, but, because I believe the womb to be a nurturing place for African-Americans. I have three young children, including one daughter which is probably around the same age as the one you have on your billboard.
What were the people in marketing thinking? No one raised an eyebrow? The fact that African-Americans are on the board at Life Always does not make it acceptable or any less racist and despicable.
I am not interested in discussing the contentious issues of anti-abortion and pro-choice, particularly the way you have cropped this unhealthy style of debate. I am in awe of African-American women therefore; I am more compelled to address the attack of the African-American womb and the people and civilizations that bore out of it.
Your marketing ploy could be the equivalent of calling me the N-word in a bold attempt to discuss gun violence in poor communities, because it will not receive its desired effect. However, it is far worse. Not only is this disregard for my people now placed for the world to see, it is ridiculing something sacred and precious that has given me life, my many mothers of generations. In an ironic twist, you have attacked, desecrated and criminalized life by posting a living human-being next to a disgusting text in a pathetic attempt to force us to revere it. African Americans love life. We love our wombs and will protect and defend them at all cost.
Yet, I sit and wonder if other communities would find similar marketing tactics geared toward them as life-changing and noble as you hoped them to be for African Americans. Better question is would you attempt such a thing in other communities attacking their womb regardless of outrage? There is nothing else to compare it to. Nothing else is comparable to the womb. Please respect it.
Most Sincere,
Omowale Adewale
