Speaker: Ruby Powell Dennis
Why are you a Reproductive Justice Voter?
Ruby Powell Dennis: I am a reproductive justice voter because I know having access to health care and access to reproductive choice directly impacts life outcomes. I grew up in a rural community in Louisiana and in the nineties, our maternal health ward was closed. So if you wanted to have a baby, you had to go all the way to New Orleans. And I saw firsthand because there are 13 women in my immediate family, how that directly impacted not only the types of jobs that folks have, but in general, just being able to make the decisions that are right for you, your body and your family. And so that is why I'm a reproductive justice voter. And I believe that black women, particularly in rural communities deserve the healthcare and access that all Americans all over the country enjoy.
How does Reproductive Justice show up in your life?
Ruby Powell Dennis: Reproductive justice shows up in my life because I have a daughter who is in generation alpha and I was the first generation of Americans that have full rights under the Constitution of the United States. But since the Dobbs decision, my daughter now lives a very different existence. And so for me, as I'm talking about and she's seven years. So when I want her to think about being so confident and making choices and taking care of herself, right? Because it is a very human thing to need access to health care. I just want to ensure that she has access to at least the very same rights that I have that help me achieve all the things I've achieved in life. And so that is how it shows up for me and my family.
