As we honor leaders in Black history this month, the battles they lead for civil rights may seem like relics of a past era. But there is more progress to be made to achieve systemic equality for Black people, particularly in the realm of voting rights, economic justice, housing, and education; as well as ending police brutality and eradicating racism and discrimination in the criminal legal system. Those battles continue under the leadership of Black activists, lawmakers, athletes, actors, and others — many working side by side with the ACLU — who are pursuing true equality to this day. This year, we’re recognizing both.

Yoichi Okamoto

As one of the foremost leaders of the civil rights movement, Thurgood Marshall was the architect of a brilliant legal strategy to end segregation and fight racial injustice nationwide. He’s best known for Brown v. Board of Education, a landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that dismantled the “separate but equal” precedent, initiating integration in schools and other parts of society. Before becoming the first Black Supreme Court Justice in 1967, he worked with the NAACP, founded the Legal Defense Fund, and served on the ACLU board for eight years.

“Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.” — Thurgood Marshall, commencement address at the University of Virginia in 1978

Associated Press

One of the greatest legal minds of the 20th century, Pauli Murray was among the first to theorize that the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under law could be used to challenge laws that discriminated based not only on race, but also on sex. This work formed the basis for arguments in Brown and laid the framework for Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s mission when she founded the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project in 1972.

Murray also co-founded the National Organization for Women 1966, but eventually left the organization in protest of its exclusionary racial politics that she believed did not address the barriers faced by Black women.

“Since, as a human being, I cannot allow myself to be fragmented into Negro at one time, woman at another, or worker at another, I must find a unifying principle in all of these movements to which I can adhere … This, it seems to me, is not only good politics, but also may be the price of survival.” — Pauli Murray in a letter to the National Organization for Women

In addition to Murray’s foundational work in women’s and civil rights, Murray also served the ACLU on its national board of directors and as part of an advisory committee guiding its women’s rights work. This past fall, we launched the Pauli Murray Fellowship in Murray’s honor — a program that will foster the next generation of leaders.

Duke University / Broadsides and Ephemera Collection

When Black landscape gardener Winfred Lynn received his draft notice in 1942, he responded by defiantly stating that he was “ready to serve in any unit of the armed forces of my country which is not segregated by race.” The ACLU took up his case challenging the racially segregated draft in World War II. While the lawsuit itself ultimately failed, the controversy surrounding it highlighted the hypocrisy of segregating the armed forces of a country espousing ideals of equality during its fight against the Nazis. This case was a contributing factor in President Truman’s July 26, 1948 executive order ending racial segregation in the military.

Associated Press

On the launch of his groundbreaking 1903 treatise “The Souls of Black Folk,” W.E.B. Du Bois remarked that “the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.” In describing the Black American experience as a form of “double consciousness,” he created a theoretical framework still widely used in sociology today. Du Bois went on to found the NAACP in 1909, and became one of the most influential figures in Black history.

“One ever feels his twoness — an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, who dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” — W.E.B Dubois

Andy Kropa /Invision/AP

As the first openly trans Emmy nominee, Laverne Cox has used her rising fame to advocate for trans rights, awareness, and visibility, particularly for Black trans women, who face criminalization and disproportionate violence and harassment. A frequent partner, she’s fought side-by-side with the ACLU against anti-trans legislation and at the Supreme Court, where she was instrumental in raising awareness for the Aimee Stephens case, in which the court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s protections against sex discrimination in the workplace also apply to LGBTQ people — a major victory for the rights of trans people across the country.

“I think part of this is a backlash against the unprecedented visibility we have in the media now. Trans people are coming forward and saying, ‘This is who I am. I have a right to exist.’ We’ve always existed, and now we’re coming out of the shadows. And as we come out of the shadows, people want to force us back into the dark and to back pages. And we are saying, ‘No, we deserve a right to live in the light.’ And that’s all we want.” — Laverne Cox in Democracy Now!

When Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before a NFL game in 2016, the “take the knee” movement was born as a widespread, powerful form of protest against police brutality and racial inequality, raising awareness on a national stage. While this act cost Kaepernick his NFL career, it made an indelible impact on the national conversation about race and policing, and the ways we protest.

“There are bodies in the street and cops are getting paid leave and getting away with murder … I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. If they take football away, my endorsements from me — I know that what I stood up for is right.”— Colin Kaepernick

More recently, Kaepernick has worked on a docuseries on police brutality, “Killing County;” wrote a children’s book, “I Color Myself Different;” and appeared in a Netflix series about his life, “Colin in Black and White.”

NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx

As a young activist fighting against racial segregation, Eleanor Holmes Norton took her passion for the First Amendment to the ACLU, where she worked as an attorney fresh out of law school, and later, to Congress, where she has represented the District of Columbia since 1991. Her work as a Congresswoman centers on full voting representation and economic justice for the people of D.C., and includes fighting for D.C. statehood, lowering college tuition, and housing reforms. In January, she announced the Senate introduction of her D.C. statehood bill, bringing it one step closer to passage.

“Growing up in the District of Columbia was ample preparation for the civil rights movement, not only because of racial segregation in the nation’s capital, but also considering that D.C. was directly controlled by the federal government until the 1973 Home Rule Act and had no mayor or city council, and no member of Congress. Deprived of the basics of democracy, compelled to abide by racial segregation, and denied representation in Congress, my hometown prepared me to look to the First Amendment for change.” — Eleanor Holmes Norton

Dr. Yashica Robinson has been on the front lines of the fight for abortion rights as an obstetrician-gynecologist serving her community in Alabama. With representation from the ACLU, she fought for years to keep Alabama’s near-total abortion ban from taking effect and to keep abortion available in the state. Even though that ban finally took effect last year after the fall of Roe, she continues working tirelessly for reproductive freedom.

“Black women in Alabama are nearly five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. We know that racial disparities in health care are exacerbated by policies that make accessing health care more challenging. Without access to abortion, maternal mortality rates will rise even more — in Alabama, and across the country.” — Yashica Robinson

Associated Press

As a Black trans woman and leader in the trans rights movement, Lala Zannell has fought discrimination, criminalization, and violence against trans people with the ACLU and as a community organizer. Protecting Black trans lives is a priority of her work, which includes helping to end unconstitutional searches by the NYPD, advocating for the decriminalization of sex work, and testifying at the first Congressional forum on violence against transgender people, among other initiatives. In 2017, she made history as the first trans woman to speak at the White House for Women’s History Month.

“I was not all the way 100 percent, a publicly out visible trans woman … It was not until after Islan Nettles died — who was a Black trans woman out of Harlem who was in school, she just got her apartment, was on her way to FIT university for fashion, was trying to go home. And a guy cat-called her. She told her truth and he beat her to her death. … to just see so many Black trans women, Black queer people mourning the life and death of a Black trans woman was just so powerful for me. So in that moment, I just said I don’t care anymore.” — LaLa Zannell

The last time we talked to Angel, Briana, Cazembe, Maleeha, and Veronika, abortion was still a constitutional right across the country. It was exactly one year ago, on the 49th anniversary of Roe, amid an unprecedented surge of anti-abortion attacks sweeping through state legislatures in the run-up to the Dobbs decision. As abortion rights activists were gearing up for the decision, more and more people who had abortions were sharing their stories publicly, hoping to lessen the stigma of abortion as a strategy to fight back.

American Civil Liberties Union

Abortion is Essential: Stories of Liberation | News & Commentary | American Civil Liberties Union

Five advocates share the liberation they experienced as a result of their abortion.

Recently, we revisited five activists we spoke to last year through our partnership with We Testify, an organization dedicated to uplifting these voices, about what their work looks like in a post-Roe world and how storytelling continues to change minds and break through the politicization of essential reproductive health care. Here’s what they told us one year later, on what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe.

These conversations have been edited and condensed for clarity.

CAZEMBE: There was a feeling of devastation, a little like, what would I do, had there not been an opportunity for me to be able to get an abortion when I needed one? I immediately started thinking about the people who had appointments that were worried about whether or not they would be able to make decisions for their bodies.

It made me worry because I’m also a queer and trans person and there was a part of the decision where Clarence Thomas talks about basically taking away the rights of same sex couples to be married, and also the use of contraceptives. It was not something I was expecting.

MALEEHA: I was dropping my daughter off at school and on my way back, my cousin texted me about it. I saw it, but I couldn’t really process it because I was driving … I went back home, parked in my garage, and just sat in my car for 30 minutes trying to let the news sink in … It really happened. Roe was overturned. We’re living this terrible reality. This is it.

BRIANA: Someone sent me an email or a social media post and they were just like, “Oh, I’m just checking on you.” And at that point I was doing some self-care, so I wasn’t really trying to be on social media like that. So I was just like, what are they checking on me for, that’s weird. And then when I got an email from work, I was like, whoa. Now it all makes sense.

ANGEL: I was devastated when I found out. At the same time, I wasn’t surprised, just being from Texas. Before the decision, I was hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

VERONIKA: Organizations in Texas such as the one I work for, Jane’s Due Process, had been dealing with a post-Roe reality since SB 8. And so we knew what to expect … we knew that the first thing that was going to happen was trigger laws coming into effect. And that’s exactly what happened.

CAZEMBE: I think in a post-Roe world, storytelling is even more important … We need way more people to be talking about abortion because we need to normalize it. And I think talking about it takes away the stigma. Audre Lorde said, “Our silence doesn’t protect us.” You can be silent and not talk about abortion, but they’ll still come for you, you’ll still be criminalized, people you love will still not have access to the care that they need.

MALEEHA: I think it’s even more important now that those of us who’ve had abortions and are comfortable sharing our stories, do so. It can help people who might be feeling alone and afraid to find a community, because there are so many of us out there. There are so many people who have abortions for so many reasons, and I’d really like for our voices to be louder than those of the antis. … Just because Texas has banned abortion doesn’t mean people are not having abortions.

VERONIKA: There is a stigma that, “Oh, now since Roe has fallen, and a lot of states ban abortion, then abortion must be wrong.” That stigma is already ingrained in some people’s heads and it makes people think that abortion is a bad thing. And so telling stories adds a really personal touch on a very politicized topic.

BRIANA: We want people to know that there are resources available, and storytelling gets the word out there. Even though Texas Equal Access (TEA) Fund cannot fund abortions in Texas, we still have resources available for you to access. And sometimes, a lot of people don’t understand what you have to go through to get an abortion until storytelling comes into play. So if anything, I feel like now we need storytellers more than ever.

ANGEL: Being a storyteller was important before, but it’s more important now that we in Texas don’t have that option. Sharing your story with others makes them feel better about whether they’ve had an abortion before or not, or if they are seeking abortion, that there’s so many women out there that could be your friend, your sister, your mom, your cousin, anybody, your teacher that has also had an abortion.

MALEEHA: There are a lot of people that are on the fence. … For me, I want to focus on that middle ground because once they hear the stories of so many different people, it is absolutely possible to change minds and change hearts.

BRIANA: There have been plenty of conversations that I’ve had about my own story, when I’ve been talking to someone and they were like, “Oh, I didn’t think about that. Oh, I wouldn’t expect you to get an abortion.” I feel like if you can just change the mind of one person with storytelling, you’ve done something.

VERONIKA: I definitely think it’s still possible, when people explain how abortion actually helped them in their lives, like how it did with me. I was 17 and was looking forward to college, and if I hadn’t had an abortion, then I wouldn’t have been able to go to college because I had no money, no job, or anything. When you share that aspect, you show how it impacts people’s lives until way later. For me, it’s been about five years and it’s still one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and it’s something that I don’t regret. I still feel that sharing your story can be really impactful because it’s a conversation that can change people’s minds little by little.

BRIANA: I think the morale is probably different for everyone. We are trying to be as optimistic as possible … You know, it’s very disheartening that we’re in this position. But at the same time, we are finding ways to readjust and try to figure out ways to still support people who are trying to access abortion. So I feel like as long as we think positive and stay optimistic, we’re still going to be able to be in this fight. You know, we’re doing this together. And we have a very large community. So I feel really good about being in this space.

Within TEA fund and I’m sure in many other organizations, we are trying our best to make sure our mental health is okay and that we are supporting each other. Because as we continue this fight, we want to make sure we take care of ourselves so we can help other people. This work is already hard.

MALEEHA: For me personally, it depends on the day you ask me. Some days I’m not feeling so great. With state legislative session coming up, they’re not just trying to attack abortion — they’re trying to attack all of the values that we care about. But we’re trying to remain optimistic and focus on our other reproductive justice values while still holding onto hope. People who are pregnant in Texas now need help more than ever because they are being abandoned by the state and anti-choice politicians.

CAZEMBE: I think activism is evolving post Roe. There are a lot of trainings for folks to become abortion doulas, to assist people getting abortions, raise money, drive them to clinics, take care of them after they had the abortions. … I think we’re fired up. … During the midterms, we saw people show up in record numbers to be able to say this. I know we did here in Georgia because we had a fight between a pro-abortion person and an anti-abortion person fighting for a Senate seat. And the person that was pro-abortion was also the one who ultimately won.

What I’ve heard from other non-binary folks is that folks want to get trained to be able to assist other trans and non-binary folks in getting their abortions, like by doing abortion doula trainings so we can take care of each other. Part of the training is talking to the people at the clinic and saying “Hey, this is what his pronouns are, this is what their pronouns are, and please use them when you refer to him.” And it’s a much better experience than having to advocate for yourself, when you have someone else there who can advocate for you.

VERONIKA: At Jane’s Due Process, our goal right now is to figure out how we can provide since we can’t really do the services that we were intended to do. And that means providing birth control or emergency contraceptives or just getting people well informed. I think all of us are ready to continue the fight

CAZEMBE: At the end of the day, we can’t just focus on abortion because even if we get abortion access, we still have patriarchy, we still have racism, we still have all these other systems in place that will keep abortion access limited to a specific few. So we have to continue to fight for all of these other systems of oppression to be abolished as well. For example, when we think about abolition of the police, in order for us to do that, we need to be able to protect abortion access because there are people who are being criminalized for wanting to end their pregnancies.

BRIANA: I feel like you can go on and on about what reproductive justice could mean, but at least for me, it’s making sure that people don’t have to go through all these financial barriers. I went through a lot of abortion stigma when I tried to access my abortion, so I wish a lot of people did not have to go through that. I wish people would just be a little bit more understanding and let people know, like, again, everyone has abortions and we all have abortions for many different reasons. And I wish that any and everyone can get an abortion for free. Like abortion for everyone. That’s what I would want.

MALEEHA: Reproductive justice to me means not just focusing on abortion, but the full spectrum of care. But it’s also for people who are choosing to be parents or want to be parents to be able to raise their children in safe and sustainable communities, which means paid sick leave, which means parental leave, which means doing something about the ridiculous and rising childcare costs and health care. That to me is reproductive justice.

Watch the full video below:

Play the video