Book Talk: Liberating Abortion

A recording of this October 20, 2024, event is available on the MEP’s YouTube channel.

Regina Mahone presents Liberating Abortion, a galvanizing history recentering people of color to put forth a timely argument that we must liberate abortion for all. In their book Mahone and co-author Renee Bracey Sherman illustrate the long racist history that brought us to this moment, uncover the hidden figures who laid the foundations that activists and storytellers are building on today, and explain how abortion has been and remains essential to the health of our communities. Liberating Abortion takes us back to the basics of sex education, detailing the traditions of abortion over centuries, while examining how society makes us feel about our experiences. The book presents rigorous research, never-before-heard stories, and eye-opening interviews with over 50 people of color who’ve had abortions – including activists, actresses, television writers, politicians, and the two Black members of Jane, the Chicago feminist service that provided abortions before Roe. With poignant storytelling and precise analysis, Liberating Abortion will change how you think about abortion forever.

Regina Mahone is a writer and editor whose work explores the intersections between race, class, and reproductive rights. A senior editor at The Nation, she also runs Repro Nation, a monthly newsletter about global efforts to protect reproductive freedom. With Renee Bracey Sherman she co-hosts the podcast The A Files: A Secret History of Abortion from The Meteor. Regina has written for publications including Cosmopolitan, Elle, Rewire News Group, Romper, The Nation, and Truthout. She lives in New Jersey with her partner and two children.

Liberating Abortion will be released on October 1 and is available for pre-order at liberatingabortion.org.