Activists in the National Abortion Campaign will nere recognise these attacks. The criticisms made by the women who decided to leave NAC and form the Reproductive Rights Campaign are very similar. These accusations are put forward by Alice Henrv (an Off Our Backs isue ist in tae el rannd ISSUC Trouble Strife, Radical Feminist discussion journal which even accuses VAC of racism. This is not a new debate. It went on in che US in the early seventies. American socialists black women, like Maxine Williams, took up the defence of a woman's right choose. They showed that it is now, and will continue to be, a vital issue. This is why we are re-printing the arguments o Socaist remuusLs Cindy Jaquith who was then editor LuC American socialist DaDCl Maxine Williams founder browbeating one mollel I'm SRICISL as some women nave •done. doing damn thing for the Black woman. What is needed is action.
What is hampering it now is not the fact that it is stil! composed of Willle. ane cle women. Rather it is the failure curace enough actions that would draw in and link up with the masses of women not yet in the movement, including working and Black Wulllcil Issues such as day care, abortion, support for the striking reeoione workers, support for laws that imorove working conditions are steps in the right direction.
Liberation must not isolate itself from Tne masser momen the Black, Chicano, or ruerle Ricar Collimunities. At the same time. white women cannot speak for Black women. Black women must speak for themselves.'
Socialist Action 9 March 1984
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