Street Roots • Dec 1-7, 2017
Book Review
the notion that racial justice and
reproductive justice are intimately related.
“It was not lost on me, an African American
man from Birmingham, Alabama, descended
from slaves, that new legislation aimed at
telling women what they might and might
not do with their own physical bodies looked
a whole lot like men owning women’s
bodies.”
One thing that is refreshing about this
book is the strong thread of feminism
coming from a man. He uses examples from
his upbringing where teenage girls (or
unmarried women) were stigmatized
because of a pregnancy, but the boys and
men who fathered the children were not.
Parker provides an interesting background
on the history of the politics leading up to
the present day, including how the
Republican party evolved to its current views
on abortion. He criticizes Democrats for
their contribution to the rhetoric of women
as victims rather than deserving of liberty
and privacy. What I have found powerful
about the way Parker both writes and speaks
is the humanism and dignity he gives to his
patients above all else. He expresses his
frustration with the current state of politics
when he asserts, “The political conversation
about abortion has obliterated truth and
crushed any nuanced understanding of what
it means to live a human life.”
I also appreciated that he readily
describes abortion procedures in a way that
is easy to understand and medically
accurate. This is a particular skill set that
I’m sure anyone who has ever seen a doctor
can appreciate. There are a lot of myths and
misunderstandings about what having an
abortion entails, so it is worth giving credit
for this seemingly simple section of the
book.
In “Slings and Arrows,” he discusses the
murder of-Dr. George Tiller, an abortion
provider who was killed in a church in 2009,
and the risks of this profession.
Perhaps the only place where Parker’s
ability to humanize others waivers is in
referring to the “antis” (short for “anti
choice”) as he calls those who refer to
also
introduces
his
Christianity
and
BY G LEN N A M ARTIN
themselves as “pro-life.” Because I do not
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T
dedicates the book to the women who want
identify in that way, I am not sure how this
abortions. It is apt that he starts the book
would come across to someone who opposes
r. Willie Parker is an obstetrician/
this way, and in fact he centers his patients
his viewpoints. It is compelling to read that
gynecologist who has been in the
and others in his life throughout the book.
Christianity and defense of legal access to
public eye for years. A “Life’s Work”
Parker tells of his religious beliefs, his
abortion are not mutually exclusive. The last
is a bold and brave memoir that justifies his
family and upbringing and his experiences
chapter, “A New Theology of Abortion,” is
ongoing advocacy and activism for abortion
as a doctor to explain how he arrives at his
exactly that, and wraps up the book nicely in
rights.
views. He writes about his deep
a way that feels like both an end and a
Parker provides abortions in the South,
commitment to social justice and his
beginning.
mainly Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. In
admiration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In
One criticism I have is that women, per
2009 he decided to dedicate the rest of his
fact, it is in part by reading King’s
se, are not the only ones with a uterus. I
career to the practice of safe and dignified
interpretation of the “The Parable of the
think at this point if we are speaking about a
abortion care. This book is about his journey
Good Samaritan” that Parker realized his
gender issue, such as abortion, it is
and arrival both physically and mentally to
future. And this is all just in the first
important to at least mention trans, gender
this time in his career. What I find
chapter, “Conversion.”
queer and others who are often not included
captivating about his journey is the religious
In subsequent chapters, Parker shares
or considered in the discussion when we
and moral arc. He writes that while some
intimate details of his life growing up in a
center it purely around women. That said, I
Christians believe they must conscientiously
small mining town in Alabama. We follow his
believe that Parker would likely agree with
object to abortion, he believes that he has a
education, and in a chapter called “Dreams,”
this analysis, though it is not often
moral or religious obligation to provide
he gives us a sense of how it felt to balance
discussed, and the medical community as a
compassionate care.
his religious beliefs with his love of science.
whole has a long way to go on this topic.
M y copy of this book is signed by the
A mentor encourages him to be a doctor,
Although the topics raised in this book
author with the phrase, “Women matter.
which was the first time he considered
can be challenging, the book is eminently
Thanks for caring.” I think this nicely sums
merging his interest in building
readable, and I found myself compelled to
up how Parker feels and writes about his
relationships, helping others and studying
continue chapter after chapter, even late at
work and passion. Full disclosure: I have met
science, which led to his career choice.
night. I recommend this book without
Parker and am a fan of his advocacy and
Parker also writes about race and racism
reservation, and I’d move it up your list
work. I am also a physician. I have a few
throughout the book, from being raised in
sooner than later.
more disclosures, but this is a review of
black churches to his experiences being
Parker’s memoir, so 111 stop here.
„
Reprinted from Street Roots’ sister paper,
overlooked as the physician due to the color
In the prologue titled “The Women,
Real Change News, Seattle.
of his skin. His powerful writing reinforces
Parker shares stories from his clinic, but
Dr. Willie Parker’s moral evolution
Memoir weaves together racial, religious and reproductive justice
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Life’s Work: A
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