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Conflict Of
A Weekly Column By Walter B. Hoye II
Interest
In the abortion debate, is there a "Conflict of Interest"
within the Black community and among her leaders?

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Mildred Fay Jefferson

"You can always tell who the pioneers are because they have arrows in their back and are lying face down in the
dirt." — Unknown, Source

Mildred Fay Jefferson (April 4th,

1926 — October 15th, 2010) was the first
black woman to graduate from Harvard
medical school and used her position to
defend the humanity of the pre-born child.
She was the only child of a Methodist minister
and a school teacher. Mildred was born in
Pittsburg, Texas, raised in Carthage, Texas,
earned her bachelor's degree from Texas
College, earned her master's degree from
Tufts University and graduated from Harvard
Medical School in 1951. She served as a
surgical intern at Boston City Hospital and
became the first female doctor at the former
Dr. Mildren Fay Jefferson (1926 -2010)
Boston University Medical Center. She was
also wholeheartedly committed to the Pro-Life movement. Dr. Jefferson was
one of the founders of the Value of Life Committee of Massachusetts, the
National Right to Life Committee, Black Americans for Life, and openly
spoke up for the pre-born child with other right to life organizations. 1 Dr.
Jefferson, a trailblazer and true pro-life pioneer, helped found the National
Right to Life Committee, was President of the Committee for three (3)
terms and then continued to served on the Committee's Board of Directors. 2
"Almost Unlimited License To Kill" 3

"The doctor who willingly accepts destroying life will have no grounds on which to object if the state should compel
that doctor to destroy life," — Mildred Fay Jefferson 4

Compelled and propelled by a deep

commitment to a Judeo-Christian ethic and
what she felt was her own profession's
betrayal of pre-born life, Dr. Jefferson felt the
1973 Supreme Court's Doe and Roe
decisions gave doctors a license that could
impair the right of doctors to refrain from
killing. In her own words, Dr. Jefferson spoke
clearly to the heart of this matter: "U.S.
Supreme Court Justices, don't have to see
the impact or consequences of their
decisions but then without consulting us they
want us to carry out these socially destructive
missions and I SAY NO AND I AM NOT
Dr. Mildren Fay Jefferson (1926 -2010)
WILLING to give up the role of doctor as
healer to become the new social executioner." 5 Dr. Jefferson's words are
now prophetic. From her vantage point, she could see the violation of not
only the rights of physicians' but ultimately an assault on the rights of us all.
She went on to say Doctors "must exert their rights and obligations or we
will be the first slaves of the state and you will soon join us." 6

Abortion Was A Civil Rights Issue

"I am at once a physician, a citizen, and a woman, and I am not willing to stand aside and allow the concept of
expendable human lives to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect,
the privileged, and the planned have the right to live." — Mildred Fay Jefferson 7

Abortion was a civil rights issue for Dr.

Jefferson. Growing up in East Texas, I
believe Dr. Jefferson understood what it
was like not to be considered a person
and became a bold communicator of the
impact of abortion among her own people.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from Dr.
Dr. Mildren Fay Jefferson (1926 -2010)
Jefferson: "In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court
looked at the slave, Dred Scott, and came up
with the wrong decision, declaring the slave as 'property' and not a 'citizen'
under the U.S. Constitution. The slave's life was still protected. In 1973, the
U.S. Supreme Court got it wrong again and handed down decisions on
abortion which declared 'open season' on unborn children throughout the full
nine months of pregnancy. After 44 million abortions, most people have not
noticed that the population descended from the U.S. African slaves,
comprising around 12% of the population, make up about 35% of the
abortion population. This means that more Americans of African descent
have died in the abortion chambers than have died in all the years of slavery
and lynchings." 8

We Are All In Her Debt

[The pro -life movement] "is second only to the abolitionist movement in the profound change it has brought about in
American thinking." — Mildred Fay Jefferson 9

We are noticing the impact of abortion in

Black America NOW Dr. Jefferson. In New
York City 60% of all Black pregnancies end
in abortion, compared to 40% for Hispanics
and 20% for whites. Black babies in New
York City are aborted at three (3) times the
rate of whites. Since 2000, Blacks have had
154,000 more abortions than live births.
Clearly, the reduction in Black births and the
high rate of Black abortions paints a picture
AirMaria.Com Interview, February 2nd, 2010
of a population in sharp decline. 10 For those
that have never seen or heard Dr. Jefferson, above and on the left is a
wonderful YouTube. In light of March being celebrated as Women's History
Month, I want to remember Dr. Jefferson and acknowledge that today's
Black Pro-Life Coalition is in her debt. If I am seeing an end to abortion
(and I am) it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of Dr.
Mildred Fay Jefferson. Dr. Jefferson, in light of Women's History Month,
thank you for a life so well lived that it continues to serve as a model for all
of us today.

Brothers, we really need to talk.

Reference(s):
01. Rebekah Hebbert, "Heroine of human dignity: Mildred Fay Jefferson", Sunday, 12th December 2010
(http://bit.ly/i8oP6Z).
02. Kathleen Sweeney, Outreach Department, National Right to Life Committee, "Black Pro -Life Leaders Honored at
U.S. Capitol Luncheon" (http://bit.ly/dPs2u9)
03. Rebekah Hebbert, op. cit.
04. Ibid.
05. Friar Roderic Mary, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, "Dr. Mildren Fay Jefferson," February 2nd, 2010
AirMaria.Com Interview (http://bit.ly/hV2OXI).
06. Rebekah Hebbert, op. cit.
07. Mildred Jefferson, M.D., 2003, American Feminist Magazine, (http://bit.ly/dERLRY).
08. Donald R. McClarey, "Mildred Fay Jefferson, Requiescat In Pace", The American Catholic, Monday, October 18,
2010 A.D. (http://bit.ly/fp0IQZ).
09. Mildred Jefferson, M.D., op. cit.
10. Dennis M. Howard, "Does New York City Deserve the Title'Pro-Abortion Police State ? '" (http://bit.ly/gYYFAs).

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