Opponents of legal birth control, including abortion, have tried for decades to play the race card, saying that legal abortion is racist. What they ignore is that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood in 1966.

In this quote, Karen DeCrow addresses the claim made by opponents of legal birth control and abortion that these practices are racist. She points out that critics have used the argument that legal abortion disproportionately impacts certain racial groups, particularly Black communities. DeCrow counters this claim by referencing the fact that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a champion for civil rights, accepted the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood in 1966, which acknowledges the work of individuals or organizations promoting family planning and reproductive rights.

The origin of this quote stems from DeCrow's advocacy for women’s rights and her defense of birth control and abortion as important components of social equality and empowerment. By invoking Dr. King's support for Planned Parenthood, DeCrow highlights the disconnect between some modern criticisms of reproductive rights and the historical positions of key figures in the civil rights movement. She emphasizes that King’s involvement with Planned Parenthood underscores that the movement for reproductive rights, including abortion, should not be dismissed as racially biased.

DeCrow's argument directly challenges the narrative that birth control and abortion are tools of racial discrimination, reminding her audience that civil rights leaders like Dr. King supported access to these services as essential to the health and dignity of all people, particularly marginalized communities. By citing King's acceptance of the Margaret Sanger Award, DeCrow attempts to debunk the racially charged opposition to reproductive rights, suggesting that such a view misrepresents both history and the core mission of organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Ultimately, this quote serves to defend the legitimacy of reproductive rights as a civil rights issue. DeCrow seeks to reclaim the discussion about abortion and birth control from critics who use race to delegitimize these rights, instead positioning them as important tools for social justice and empowerment that have historically been supported by leaders like Dr. King.