In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to end the constitutional right to abortion over two years ago, nearly two dozen states have enacted bans or restrictions on abortion procedures and pills. Special correspondent Sarah Varney investigated the profound consequences of these measures on Black women, focusing on Tennessee as part of our ongoing series, Race Matters.
Nicole Blackmon, who tragically lost her son to gun violence, moved to a Nashville suburb seeking solace. After struggling with infertility, she joyously became pregnant in Tennessee, only to face a devastating diagnosis: her fetus had severe abnormalities threatening her life. Despite the urgent need to terminate the pregnancy, Nicole and her husband discovered Tennessee had outlawed abortions. Desperate and ill, Nicole delivered a stillborn baby at 31 weeks.
Nicole’s story is not isolated. A staggering 57% of Black women aged 15 to 49—approximately seven million individuals—reside in states with severe abortion restrictions. Tennessee, known for its high maternal mortality rates, sees Black women at 2.5 times higher risk of pregnancy-related death than white women, irrespective of socioeconomic status.
While Tennessee’s legislature slightly relaxed its total ban to allow abortions in life-threatening situations, medical professionals like Dr. Rolanda Lister from Vanderbilt University Medical Center stress the dire consequences of limiting options for women facing lethal fetal anomalies. Despite legal changes, many patients are still advised to seek care out of state, reflecting ongoing barriers to reproductive healthcare access.
Usha Ranji of KFF underscores the financial and logistical burdens Black women face when accessing abortion care, exacerbated by broader systemic inequalities in healthcare access and insurance coverage. Tia Freeman, a reproductive health organizer in Tennessee, educates on alternative safe abortion methods amid legal restrictions, highlighting the growing community support networks amid dwindling clinical options.
The legal and healthcare landscape in Southern states disproportionately affects Black women’s access to essential reproductive health services, including contraceptives and routine gynecological care. Without expanded Medicaid, many women are left without crucial health insurance until pregnancy, further limiting access to comprehensive care.
Nicole Blackmon, now a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s abortion ban, speaks out against laws that disregard women’s autonomy and endanger lives. Her decision to undergo tubal ligation underscores the personal sacrifices women make to navigate restrictive reproductive laws.
As debates over reproductive rights continue, Nicole and countless others advocate for the fundamental right to make personal healthcare decisions, a choice they argue can be a matter of life or death.
For the PBS “NewsHour,” Sarah Varney reports from Nashville on the enduring impact of abortion restrictions on Black women.
