While we do get support from other Blacks, and there may be a token Black or two at local Not Dead Yet events and protests, as far as I know, I’m the only Black person in the country who is consistently active in this movement. I could be wrong. I hope I am.
Why is this? Why don’t more Black folks get involved with the anti assisted suicide movement?
It is well-known that the face of the anti assisted suicide movement, indeed, the disability rights movement, is White. It is well-known that often, contributions of Blacks to the disability rights movement are erased or unacknowledged. Even if Blacks are seen as leaders, the ones in front of the cameras or receiving the awards and accolades are usually White.
A 2013 Pew study showed that 65% of Black folks are against assisted suicide. Still, there is scant involvement of Black folks in campaigns to stop legislation that would legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
I have some ideas why there’s almost no Black participation in this movement.
1. This isn’t a part of our culture.
Frankly, assisted suicide isn’t something that is discussed in the Black community. I’d never heard of it, even though my birth mother lived with chronic illness and lived to see the end results of her condition. Not once did she complain. Not once did she ask to die. None of the folks in my church or community wanted to die because they were sick or disabled. I’m not saying that suicide doesn’t exist in the Black community, but in my experience, it was due to depression related to situational issues, such as the loss of a job, a spouse or loved one or something else entirely. When we get sick or become disabled, we or our families often turn to prayer or the church.
2. Assisted suicide is considered a White thing.
Many Black folks who I talk to about the anti assisted suicide movement say “that’s a White thing, we don’t do that stuff”. They ask me why have I devoted myself to a predominantly White issue.
3. Blacks with disabilities have enough specific issues to work on without working on an almost exclusively White issue that doesn’t affect us.
Some Black activists have told me that I’m wasting time on a movement that has nothing to do with us and that I should be involved in working on issues that directly affect Black folks.