pyaar to the people Pyaar to the People

How Planned Parenthood of Greater NY Defanged Conservatives and Strengthened Its Mission

In its 105th year, the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) sharply turned its large ship in a different direction when it publicly disavowed its founder, Margaret Sanger and reckoned with its white supremacist history.

Over the prior 104 years, Conservatives have weaponized Sanger against Planned Parenthood by exposing the holes within white feminism. While liberals (defensively) hailed Sanger as the feminist pioneer of the Reproductive Rights movement who was a woman of her time.

If you are confused about Sanger, I am here to help clarify

Book cover of Killing The Black Body by Dorothy Roberts

For a heavily researched, in depth understanding of Sanger, I urge you to read Killing The Black Body by scholar and professor Dorothy Roberts. It refutes the “woman of her time” argument because as many know, Black and Indigenous women were purposefully not heard, despite their pushback, during Sanger’s time.

It also unpacks how W.E.B. Du Bois was against eugenics, despite how he and other Black people from that time are used by white feminists as a (the?) reason to not “cancel” Sanger.

Roberts also unpacks the maternal colonialism endemic to Sanger’s work. For example, in her 1939 letter to Dr. Clarence J. Gamble (heir to Proctor and Gamble), she said, “We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.” When Sanger coined the term “birth control”, it was couched in the language of eugenics, which was defined by race and could never be understood apart from race.

Similarly damning to Sanger’s legacy is how the Germans learned from and modeled their sterilization laws from eugenicists (including Sanger) in the USA. Yes, it was those in the US who provided the framework for the Nazi compulsory sterilization law of 1933 which was eventually implemented during the Nazi Holocaust. Again, read the book.

Before I go on . . .

I want to underscore that I am indubitably grateful for Planned Parenthood and the services it has provided to me. And, as mentioned in my abortion story, during my process of decolonization, I have come to understand the deep chasms that have historically prevented Planned Parenthood from evolving, innovating and leading communities it serves in an equitable way.

Therefore, I was curious to learn what happened, internally, at PPGNY to finally turn the proverbial ship towards equitable reproductive freedom

So I reached out to my contacts at PPGNY and sat down with Merle McGee, Chief Equity and Engagement Officer and Fiona Kanagasingam, Chief Equity and Learning Officer to discuss everything from Sanger’s name removal to the expansive and bold future that they envision for the NY affiliate.

April 2, 2021 by Fazeela Siddiqui

diverse children sitting on large books with activist signs illustration

(Parent)hetical, Most Read

100 Children’s Books For Blossoming Activists

We were gifted 6 copies of the children’s book A is for Activist when I was pregnant with our kid. So when I come across a progressive parent who has not heard of that book, I am admittedly surprised . . . Until I remind myself that I live in a Brooklyn bubble.

From the day our Sun came home from the hospital, we have read to him at minimum 3 books a night. He has more children’s books than toys. And yes, I realize all the cliches and stereotypes about Brooklyn and/or South-Asian-American parents have just reared their obnoxious heads. And, this is our truth.

Books were my salvation, joy and escape during childhood and they still are. Plus, I was recently identified as a bibliobibuli, so I’m just gonna lean in and claim it all with 0 shame.

After a few community requests, I put together a list of 100 progressive children’s books that center Own Voices authors. This list includes James Baldwin’s only children’s book that has just been published for the first time in 40 years! Enjoy!

Caveats, warnings, fine print

This list is in no way exhaustive, please add recs in the comments;
Having said that, there are some books that I kept out on purpose and am happy to discuss why;
Age ranges are subjective and limiting so they are not included. For example, my 3.5 yr old has always enjoyed books that do not comport to his age. . . You all know your own kids, they are limitless, go with your gut;
I recommend Indie Bound as a way to find books from your local independent bookstore. My favorites are Greenlight Bookstore and Center for Fiction, both located in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. Yet Indie Bound is not always on point. There have been many books that have not appeared to be locally available on the Indie Bound site, but then I’ll go to the bookstore and the book is there (just happened last week);
Before someone @ me about using Amazon links, I want to be clear about why I did: 1) Some of these radical children’s books are self-published and are only available on Amazon because of this, this and more. 2) I think the descriptions and comments can be useful in choosing books. 3) We are living in a global pandemic and I don’t know where people are located, so I’m trying to be useful and realistic;
The list is ordered alphabetically.

December 29, 2020 by Fazeela Siddiqui

Rashida Richardson discussing civil rights and technology in The Social Dilemma on Netflix

The Only Black Person In ‘The Social Dilemma’ On Civil Rights And Tech

The only Black person in Netflix’s The Social Dilemma, was interviewed for over 4 hours, but in the documentary for 7 seconds. It felt egregious to me. Not just because of the optics that others have been discussing, but because Rashida Richardson is an effing genius and trailblazer who needs to be heard.

Cast of Netflix Documentary The Social Dilemma at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival premiere — The 2020 Sundance Film Festival, “The Social Dilemma” Premiere

When the film producers from The Social Dilemma reached out to Rashida, a civil rights lawyer who focuses on technology, she was initially hesitant to participate. Her take was, “I’m not like these other people that you are interviewing. They helped to develop the systems that we now see as a problem and now they conveniently realize there is a problem after they have profited from it”. But the film producers still wanted (7 seconds of) her after she divulged her concerns.

Netflix The Social Dilemma documentary poster art with a young woman on the phone walking.

So, I recently went over to her Brooklyn Brownstone, which her grandparents purchased in the 1940s, to discuss really interesting shit that was left out of the documentary. Of course, Rashida made me a delicious meal, because she is a phenomenal cook, and we talked and laughed for a few hours. Full disclosure: We met during law school and since that time we have become friends, dance partners, foodie buddies and more.

Fazeela Siddiqui and Rashida Richardson discussing the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma — Rashida and I at her home

So sit back and get ready for us to discuss why tech is the next big civil rights issue of our time, why Rashida doesn’t use social media, how the NYPD and FBI are preventing Brooklyn rappers from coming back to the level of Biggie and Bad Boy, having dinner at Angela Davis’s home and the real talk she gives to young Black women who reach out to her for career advice.

October 14, 2020 by Fazeela Siddiqui

Illustration of Black women's hands holding a card for reproductive justice

Most Read, Parts of a Whole, Personal and Political

Why Reproductive Justice Does Not Align With ProChoice Politics

“Reproductive rights” and “reproductive justice” are phrases used interchangeably, while in fact they are dueling movements amidst a growing power struggle.

The Reproductive Rights Movement is led by mid-upper class white feminists with a narrow agenda, that solely focuses on ending pregnancy through “pro-choice” activism. It has refused to incorporate anti-racism into its framework.

The Reproductive Justice movement is led by radical feminists of color and QTPOC who affirmatively incorporate an antiracist framework. RJ represents those who legally lost the “right to choose” four years after Roe v. Wade and addresses reproductive violences that remain ignored or unimportant by the former movement.

The new Black President of Planned Parenthood, Alexis McGill, has indicated that her vision is to lead the organization into a reproductive justice framework for the first time. This is great news considering the organization’s sordid history! It signals a real ideological shift towards justice.

July 18, 2020 by Fazeela Siddiqui

Teen Vogue Director of Culture and Entertainment head shot in a tropical setting

Personal and Political

A Director At ‘Teen Vogue’ On Finding Her Niche

Around 2016 I started paying attention to Teen Vogue. All of a sudden it was publishing substantive articles not typically reserved for women’s magazines and definitely not teen mags. It is clear to me that I need to keep reading this teen magazine… even at the ripe age of 39.

Incidentally, a neighbor of mine, Danielle Kwateng-Clark (aka Dani) was recently brought on as the Culture and Entertainment Director at Teen Vogue. Her passion is in telling the stories of women of color in the arts, fashion, and pop-culture. While she was still at Vice, I asked her if she was interested in speaking to me about her career in journalism. I thought she could provide sage guidance for readers with similar career goals. She said yes and then literally like two weeks later she announced her move to Teen Vogue.

August 21, 2019 by Fazeela Siddiqui

Personal and Political

Why This Queer Muslim Woman Pisses Everyone Off

I can attest that Urooj Arshad is a gentle, kind, introvert who emanates warmth, groundedness and confidence. Having said that, this trailblazer who was recently named by NBC Out as one of the #Pride50: Contemporary LGBTQ changemakers, pisses a lot of people off. This includes conservatives, islamophobes, homophobes, and folks in the mainstream white-led LGBTQ movement . . . Why? Because she is an unapologetic queer. Muslim. immigrant. woman. Apparently this makes a whole lotta folks uncomfortable.

I recently spoke with Urooj to get a better understanding of the rifts within the LGBTQ movement and where queer Muslims fit in. She laid down so many gems, I hope you get as much from reading her words as I did . . .

July 19, 2019 by Fazeela Siddiqui

two fierce femme desi aunties staring at the camera

Personal and Political

Bad Brown Aunties: A Powerful And Unapologetically Bold Podcast

Bad Brown Aunties is the podcast I never knew I always wanted.

This new podcast is hosted by two queer desi immigrants, Rage Kidvai and Thanu Yakupitiyage. When listening, it doesn’t feel as if the hosts are performing in that podcast-y way. Instead, it feels as if I were listening to friends chatting in a fresh, light-hearted, fierce and authentic way. The podcast is about art, culture, politics, and legacy through the lens of amazing and creative people of color.

June 19, 2019 by Fazeela Siddiqui

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