STRIP TONIGHT, CALIFORNIA RESPONDS TO A LEAKED DRAFT SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT SEEKS TO OVERTURN REALLY WEIGHED.

WE HEAR FROM JACKIE SPEAR.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD CEO AND A SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR.

>>> A WIFE AND HUSBAND ACTIVISTS AND AUTHORS.

THEY JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE NEW BOOKS HIGHLIGHTING THE POWER OF MOTHERS.

>>> SPRING BRINGS A HARVEST OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WE VISIT OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKETS IN THIS WEEK'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

>>> COMING TO FROM KQED HEADQUARTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS FRIDAY MAY 6, 2022 .

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

THIS IS KQED NEWSROOM AND I AM PRIYA DAVID CLEMENS.

THIS WEEK MANY OF US WERE STUNNED TO LEARN THE SUPREME COURT INTENDS TO REVERSE ROE V. WADE.

1973 RULING THAT PROTECTS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

THE INFORMATION CAME BY WAY OF A LEAKED DRAFT SUPREME COURT OPINION OBTAINED THE NEWS ORGANIZATION POLITICO.

IN RESPONSE, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ANY HEALTHCARE AGENCIES ARE SIGNALING THEY WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO ABORTION SERVICES FOR WOMEN WHO MAY TRAVEL HERE FROM OTHER STATES.

LAWMAKERS ALSO TALKING ABOUT STATE LAWS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS TO HAVE AN ABORTION IN CALIFORNA.

JOINING US NOW IS CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEAR .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVITATION.

>> IT IS YOU DESCRIBE YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE DRAFT RULING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GUT PUNCH.

I WAS STUNNED.

I WAS LITERALLY GROANING AT THE TIME.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.

I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

I THINK MOST OF US TOILING IN THE FIELDS OF WOMEN'S EQUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, IT IS LIKE A BAD DREAM.

THERE IS A NIGHTMARE ELEMENTS TO IT.

IT SUGGESTS THAT WE ARE REALLY GOING BACK IN TIME.

LOTS HAPPENED SINCE THE BACK ALLEY ABORTIONS OF YESTERYEAR.

THAT IS NOT ANYTHING WE SHOULD CONTEMPLATE.

THERE IS MEDICATION AND ABORTION.

THERE ARE MANY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE.

BUT, IT DOES PLACE WOMAN IN A POSITION MORE CATTLE THAN HUMAN BEINGS.

TO BE TOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY A FETUS TO TERM.

>> IN 2011 HE BECAME THE FIRST MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO SHARE A PERSONAL ABORTION STORY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WHY DID YOU THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT THAT?

>> I REALLY DO HAVE, I REALLY HAD NO INTENTION OF SPEAKING PUBLICLY ABOUT IT.

BUT, THERE WAS A RAGE THAT WELLED UP INSIDE OF ME WHEN A COLLEAGUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WAS READING FROM A BOOK, TALKING ABOUT SECOND TRIMESTER ABORTION AND TALKING ABOUT SAWING OFF LIMBS.

I JUST COULD NOT TAKE UP I STOOD UP AND SAID, I HAVE HAD THIS PROCEDURE.

HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

OFTENTIMES THERE IS AN EFFORT TO PAINT WOMEN AS USING ABORTIONS IS A FORM OF CONTRACEPTION.

IT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

ANY WOMAN WHO HAS AN ABORTION, WHETHER HER LIFE WAS AT RISK OR IT WAS A PROFOUNDLY INAPPROPRIATE TIME TO HAVE A CHILD, IT IS A STRUGGLE.

IT IS A PERSONAL STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH THE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT COUNTRY, BEFORE THEY REACH THE AGE OF 45 WILL HAVE AN ABORTION.

59% OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE ABORTIONS ARE MOTHERS.

THEY HAVE EMBRACED MOTHERHOOD.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT NOT WANTING TO HAVE CHILDREN.

IS ABOUT EITHER A PERSONAL RISK, A PHYSICAL RISK, OR A FINANCIAL, AND OPPORTUNE POINT IN TIME.

WHY WOULD WE WANT TO BRING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD THAT WE CANNOT PROPERLY CARE FOR?

>> COULD YOU TELL US AND SHARE WITH US IN SO FAR AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BEING ABLE TO END YOUR PREGNANCY AND WHAT ADMITTED IN YOUR LIFE?

>> YOU ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE IN PUBLIC SERVICE .

THE ALLOWED ME TO SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE A SECOND CHILD.

THIS WAS A PREGNANCY THAT I DESPERATELY WANTED, BUT, THE FETUS HAD FALLEN FROM THE UTERUS THROUGH THE CERVIX INTO THE REGINA AND, I WAS KEPT OVERNIGHT UPSIDE DOWN IN A HOSPITAL BED, TRYING TO GET THE FETUS TO RETURN TO THE UTERUS.

IT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE VIABLE.

SO, I MADE THE DECISION TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

EVERY TIME A WOMAN MISS CARRIES, SHE IS HAVING AN ABORTION.

FOR PEOPLE TO SUGGEST PHYSICIANS SHOULD NOT BE TRAINED HOW TO PERFORM ABORTIONS IS PLACING WOMEN AT RISK BECAUSE WOMEN DO HAVE MISCARRIAGES.

I HAVE HAD TWO.

SUSPECT THAT OFTEN IS NOT TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.

OFTEN SORT OF A CULTURE OF, YOU KNOW, QUIETS AROUND THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN WOMEN'S LIVES.

IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE ALSO BECAUSE THERE IS OFTEN A LOT OF PAIN AND PERSONAL HARDSHIP ASSOCIATED WITH THIS KIND OF LIFE.

I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO POLITICS WITH THE FINAL QUESTION WE HAVE TOGETHER.

THE LATEST POLLING SHOWS AMERICANS OPPOSE OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT OF THIS RULING WILL BE IN TERMS OF MOTIVATING THE DEMOCRATIC BASE FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS OR MOTIVATING THE REPUBLICAN BASE.

>> I THINK IT WILL MOTIVATE WOMEN OF EVERY AFFILIATION.

WOMEN WHO ARE DEMOCRATS.

WOMEN WHO ARE REPUBLICANS AND WOMEN WHO ARE INDEPENDENT.

THOSE AROUND THEM THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF HIM.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS PARTICULAR MIDTERM ELECTION IS ALL ABOUT THE SUBURBAN WOMEN.

WHETHER SHE IS REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, OR INDEPENDENT.

I WOULD SUGGEST SUBURBAN WOMEN WILL FIND THIS SO OFFENSIVE THAT IS FRIGHTENING.

IT'S REALLY IS ABOUT TAKING AWAY RIGHTS THAT WOMEN HAVE HAD HALF A CENTURY.

YOU KNOW, IT BORDERS ON DIABOLICAL.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN PREDICTIONS THAT REPUBLICANS WILL WIN ENOUGH SEATS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THAT HAPPENS, DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE PUSH TO BAN ABORTIONS úNATIONWIDE?

STUCK I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY NEED TO WAIT TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE.

THERE ALREADY ARE MAJOR EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO BAN ABORTIONS.

TO CRIMINALIZE WOMEN WHO HAVE ABORTION.

TO PREVENT WOMEN FROM TRAVELING OUT OF STATE TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

SO, I THINK THAT THE FROTHING AT THE MOUTH THAT IS GOING ON WITH COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE IS GOING TO BE VERY DESTRUCTIVE.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE OVERREACHING ONCE AGAIN.

>> YOU ARE NEARING THE END OF YOUR TIME IN CONGRESS.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU COME IN AND SIT DOWN WITH US AND REFLECT ON EVERYTHING OVERALL IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE DRAFT OPINION RAISES A HOST OF LEGAL QUESTIONS AND SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT ABORTION FOR MILLIONS OF WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WOMEN OF COLOR MOST LIKELY WILL BE AFFECTED IF ROE IS OVERTURNED.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES ARE THE PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY AND THE CEO OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, CALIFORNIA THANK YOU BOTH LADIES FOR BEING HERE WITH ME TODAY, I APPRECIATE IT.

SO, THE NEWS CAME THROUGH A LEAK BUT WAS NOT A SURPRISE TO MANY, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THE ISSUE ACROSS THE NATION.

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ACTUALLY HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS POTENTIAL RULING MANY MONTHS NOW.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE STATE HAS BEEN DOING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO, WHEN TEXAS PASSED RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BAN SO IN SEPTEMBER AND THE SUPREME COURT LET IT GO INTO EFFECT WHICH THAT WAS A SURPRISE AT THE TIME.

WE QUICKLY PULL TOGETHER EXPERTS AND NEW WE WERE SEEING PATIENTS IMMEDIATELY COMING FROM TEXAS.

I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING PATIENTS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY BEFORE THAT, SO, LAST FISCAL YEAR WE SAW SOME 7000 PATIENTS.

PATIENTS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF A HOST OF BARRIERS IN EXISTENCE.

WHEN IT WENT INTO EFFECT, WE PULLED EXPERTS TOGETHER INCLUDING POLICYMAKERS AND CREATED THE COUNCIL AND WITHIN A THREE MONTH TIMEFRAME HAD 45 RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THE LAWMAKERS CAME BACK IN JANUARY.

THEY INTRODUCED OVER A DOZEN BILLS AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS.

WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS DAY.

>> YOU SAID 7000 IN THE LAST FISCAL HERE.

ARE THERE ANY PREDICTIONS FOR HOW MANY COULD BE COMING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY PREDICT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE VARIABLES.

JUST QUICKLY, WHEN TEXAS WENT INTO EFFECT, OKLAHOMA CITY HAD THE BULK OF THOSE PATIENT'S.

THE WAIT TIME WENT FROM THREE DAYS TO THREE WEEKS.

ABOUT HALF OF THE PATIENTS ARE SEEN FROM TEXAS AND NOW, THEY JUST SIGNED INTO LAW THE BAN GOING INTO EFFECT WITH THE ROE V. WADE DECISION FINAL.

IS A DOMINO EFFECT.

WE DO KNOW THAT WHAT THE REPORTS ARE SAYING IS THERE'S OVER 1 MILLION EXTRA PATIENTS THAT WILL FIND CALIFORNIA'S THE CLOSEST HEALTH CENTER.

WE ARE JUST PREPARING FOR THE CAPACITY AND REALLY ENSURING FOR HALF OF THE COUNTRY, WOMEN ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE STATE THAT THEY LIVE IN TO GET SERVICES.

HOW CAN WE ENSURE WE ARE A HAVEN STATES TO HELP PEOPLE GET HERE.

>> YOU ARE A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR.

YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH YOUNG WOMEN OVER THE PAST WEEK AND MANY WEEKS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM?

>> IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREMEY DIFFICULT COUPLE OF DAYS.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS.

MALE AND FEMALE.

PARTICULARLY FEMALE STUDENTS WHO HAVE GROWN UP WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS UNDER ROE V. WADE AND ARE AFRAID THEY ARE DEMORALIZED.

THEY ARE TRYING VERY HARD NOT TO BE CYNICAL ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A POLITICIZED DECISION OF THE COURT.

>> DO YOU SEE FROM YOUR PRSPECTIVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR THAT THIS DRAFT RULING IS REALLY WHAT YOU EXPECT TO HAVE HAPPEN WHEN THE OFFICIAL REALLY COMES OUT OR IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THE COMING MONTHS FOR PUBLIC PRESSURE OR ANY OTHER SORT OF LEGISLATIVE WORK TO CHANGE WHAT MAY COME FROM THE SUPREME COURT?

>> THIS IS A DRAFT OPINION.

I DO NOT THINK ANY OUTSIDE PRESSURE WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

PROBABLY SO.

THE WAY THE SUPREME COURT WORKS.

I DO NOT EXPECT THE RESULTS WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT.

WHAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT THE DRAFT IN WHICH WHAT MAY BE NEGOTIATED AND TEMPERED A LITTLE BIT IS WHAT I SEE AS A CALLOUSNESS AND A BREADTH AND SPEAKING TO THE DECISION THAT WILL AFFECT OTHER RIGHTS THAT WE UNDERSTOOD AS BEING LIBERTY INTEREST.

>> TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?

>> THIS DRAFT IS NOT JUST SAY ROE V. WADE WAS WRONGLY DECIDED.

IT SAYS IT WAS EGREGIOUSLY WRONG.

THE REASONING IS WEAK AND, THEN, IT GOES ON TO REALLY GIVE A RADICAL REPUTATION OF THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW THAT EXISTED SINCE THE 1960s.

REFERS TO THE RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION CASE, SO, ATTACKING THIS NOTION OF RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND LIBERTY AND SAYING, THAT IS NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION, IT OPENS THE DOOR TO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT LITERALLY IN THE CONSTITUTION BUT ARE UNDERSTOOD AS LIBERTY AND EQUALITY.

>> WOULD YOU REWRITE SOME OF THOSE?

>> MOST RECENTLY A DECISION HELD THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT T MARRY THAT CANNOT BE DENIED TO SAME-SEX COUPLES.

THERE WILL BE AND WERE DISSENTERS ARGUING IT WAS A MADE UP RIGHT AND THAT SHOULD BE UP TO THE PEOPLE.

THAT SHOULD BE UP TO THE STATE LEGISLATURES TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO AFFORD THAT RIGHT.

THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LONG UNDERSTOOD RIGHTS NOT LITERALLY IN THE CONSTITUTION.

LIKE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR EXAPLE IN A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING.

A RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN YOUR SEXUAL DECISIONS AND YOUR BODILY AUTONOMY.

SO, ALL OF THOSE COME INTO PLAY.

>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF WHO GENERALLY NEEDS THESE SERVICES OFTEN WOMEN WHO ARE LOW INCOME.

OFTEN WOMEN OF COLOR.

WOULD YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WAS GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS RULING?

BUT THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT AND WE ARE HEARING THE STORIES OF PEOPLE IN TEXAS THAT NEVER TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND THEY'VE NEVER TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF TEXAS NOW THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE HOW A PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM HOSTILE TO THEIR NEEDS AND HOW TO TRAVEL WERE TO GO.

ALL OF THE VARIABLES AND THEY ALWAYS ARE DISPROPORTIONALLY HARMING.

PEOPLE RESOURCES CAN GET ACCESS TO CARE.

PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THOSE RESOURCES WITH THE BIGGEST BARRIERS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES.

IT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING PUTTING A LOT OF INVESTMENTS IN RIGHT NOW IN CALIFORNIA AND HOW WE CAN ENSURE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP WITH THAT ARE INVESTED IN ENOUGH TO DO THE WORK.

>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TRAVEL VOUCHERS HELPING PEOPLE WHO COME HERE WITH HOTEL COSTS AND THE COST OF SERVICES THEMSELVES?

>> ABORTION FUNDS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK.

EVEN IN CALIFORNIA IT IS HARD.

SOMETIMES A 20 OR 25 MINUTES TRAVEL TIME TO GET TO THE NEAREST HEALTH CENTER.

ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK INCLUDING SOME OF THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH CENTERS.

SO, INVESTING IN THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP PATIENTS RIGHT NOW AS THEY DO THE WORK.

PARTNERSHIPS HAPPENING WITH COMPANIES AS WELL.

THEY HELP DO SOME OF THE WORK AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS CALIFORNIA IS TRYING TO DO IS REALLY HAVE A CENTRALIZED LANDING PAGE FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

SO IF YOU IMAGINE SOMEBODY JUST TRYING TO KNOW THEY NEED TO GET TO CALIFORNIA WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE ARE HIRING PATIENT AND ABORTION NAVIGATORS WHERE THE SOLE JOB IS TO HELP SOMEBODY NO WHAT AIRPORT TO COME INTO YOUR HOW TO GET TO THE HEALTH CENTER.

ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE RIGHT NOW.

>> THE LAST 30 SECONDS THAT WE HAVE, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT NEXT?

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR?

BUT THEY HAVE AN INVESTIGATION.

AS FAR AS IT GOES.

I THINK MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY IS THE SUBSTANCE.

THERE WILL BE A DECISION BY JUNE.

I THINK IT ALMOST WILL CERTAINLY BE A RULING OF ROE VERSUS WADE.

THAT IS A LOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE THE CRIMINALIZATION OF BEHAVIOR THAT HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD TO BE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> THE DECISION TO GIVE BIRTH OR NOT IS COMPLEX.

CONSIDERATIONS OF FAMILY, WORK, FINANCES, HEALTH, INDEPENDENCE AND MORE.

BECOMING A MOTHER MEANS TAKING ON MANY NEW RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN ORDER TO NURTURE AND RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION.

MOTHERHOOD OFTEN HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND MULTITUDES OF MOTHERS VOICES, STORIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE LOST TO HISTORY.

THE NEXT GUESTS TO RAISE THE PROFILES OF MOTHERS.

THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING BOOK IS HOW THE MOTHERS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., MALCOLM X AND JAMES BALDWIN SHAPED A NATION.

HER HUSBAND IS AN ADVOCATE FOR ENDING POVERTY AND ALSO THE FORMER MAYOR OF STOCKTON.

HIS BOOK, THE DEEPER THE ROOTS, A MEMOIR OF HOPE AND HOME HIGHLIGHTS THE POWER OF THE THREE WOMEN THAT RAISED HIM.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> LET'S START BY GETTING YOUR REACTIONS TO THE NEWS ROE V. WADE IS LIKELY TO BE OVERTURNED BUT START WITH YOUR.

>> I WOULD SAY I AM NOT SURPRISED.

I THINK WE SAW THIS COMING SEVERAL MONTHS.

DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS DISCUSSING, ANY LESS AWFUL.

ESPECIALLY IN A NATION THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT MOTHERS.

WE DO NOT HAVE AFFORDABLE LEAD OR AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE OR PARENTAL LEAVE ACCORDING TO EVERYBODY.

A NATION THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT MOTHERS.

THEREFORE, TO FORCE WOMEN TO BECOME MOTHERS IS AN ABSOLUTE CRIME.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGHT EVERY COST AND MEASURE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND LOCAL LEVEL TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT WOMEN'S RIGHTS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH WILL NOT DO IT.

>> I THINK OF MY OWN MOTHER AND THE FACT THAT SHE HAD ME WHEN I WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD AND I THINK SHE WAS PREPARED FOR THE SACRIFICES AND DIFFICULTY OF BECOMING A MOTHER.

SHE WAS NOT FORCED TO BRING ME TO TURN BUT SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND I THINK THAT LEVEL OF CHOICES PARTICULARLY AS MENTIONED IN A COUNTRY WHERE MOTHERS HAD TO DO SO MUCH BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OR THE THINGS THAT MAKE PARENTING AND MOTHERHOOD AT LEAST EASIER.

VERY DARK DAY.

A WAKE UP CALL.

>> THAT IS THE WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE BUT ALL PROGRESSIVE GAINS WITH THE PAST CENTURY.

THE PAST COUPLE YEARS WILL CONTINUE UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> LET'S TURN A LITTLE BIT TO HIGHLIGHTING AND BRINGING UP THE PROFILES OF WOMEN AND MOTHERS IN PARTICULAR.

THIS WAS YOUR DOCTORAL DISSERTATION WHICH RETURNED IT TO YOUR DEBUT BOOK WHICH HAS DONE EXTREMELY WELL.

A FASCINATING READ.

TELL ME ABOUT HOW YOU CHOSE THIS SUBJECT OF MOTHERS AND THE MOTHERS OF THESE PARTICULAR PEOPLE.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST I HAVE TO SAY I HAD AN INCREDIBLE MOTHER WHO WAS A LAWYER.

ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THE U.S. AS WELL AS ABROAD.

SO.

WHEN I STARTED MY PHD, I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HONOR MOTHERS AND I WANTED TO FIND OTHER HIDDEN FIGURES.

I WAS INSPIRED BY BECOMING AN INCREDIBLE FILM AND TO BE SOMEONE WHO CORRECTED THE STORIES.

I NARROWED IT DOWN TO THESE THEY WERE ALL BORN WITHIN SIX YEARS OF EACH OTHER.

AND THEIR FAMOUS SONS WERE ALL BORN WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF EACH OTHER.

I COULD BRING THEIR STORIES TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE BLACK WOMANHOOD AND BRING A LARGE AUDIENCE TO THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY, BLACK WOMAN'S HISTORY THROUGH THEIR EYES OVER A CENTURY OF WORLD HISTORY.

SO, YET.

>> LET ME STAY WITH YOU FOR A MOMENT.

WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW, WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN?

A FULL BOOK AND YOU CANNOT GET INTO EVERYTHING.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE?

BUT JUST TEASERS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK ABOUT ONE THING WITH EACH WOMEN THAT WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.

IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE A SENSE OF SHOCK THAT I FELT DOING THE RESEARCH .

THE BOOK WAS 90% MY ORIGINAL RESEARCH SO THIS WAS NOT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US BEFORE YOU TRY TO SEARCH THE WOMEN YOU'D COME UP SHORT FINDING ANYTHING ABOUT THEM FIRST ABOUT KNOWING IN OUR HISTORY THAT MLK SENIOR WAS A PASTOR AND WE ASSUMED THIS WAS KIND OF WHERE HE INHERITED ALL OF HIS GIFTS FROM AND MLK JUNIOR INHERITED FROM HIS FATHER.

IN FACT ACTUALLY IT WAS ALBERT TOAST PARENTS THAT RAISED HER THE WAY CHRISTIAN FAITH WAS ALWAYS INTERTWINED WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE.

SHE PARTICIPATED IN MARCHES AND BOYCOTTS AND HER HUSBAND MOVED IN WITH HER.

THIS WAS A FAMILY OF INFLUENCE.

WE SHOULD ALL KNOW THAT.

IS PART OF THE MARKET HISTORY.

JAMES BROLIN SMOTHER.

SHE WAS A WRITER HERSELF AND BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD CHANGE OTHER PEOPLES PER PERSPECIVE ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF WORDS.

SHE WOULD HAVE LETTERS GIVEN TO HER LOVED ONES SHOWING FINDING LOVE AND FEELING AND EVEN IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES.

THAT IS VERY MUCH WHAT JAMES BALDWIN DID FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THINKING ABOUT MALCOLM X AND HIS MOTHER.

SHE WAS A RADICAL ACTIVIST.

A PROUD GUARDIAN AND NATIONALIST.

LONG BEFORE HER CHILDREN WERE A THOUGHT IN HER MIND.

SHE WAS WRITING FOR NEWSPAPERS PUTTING HER NAME IN WRITING SAYING I WILL STAND UP FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY PEOPLE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

THIS WAS WHAT WE CELEBRATE AND LOVE MALCOLM X.

FOR.

WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN LONG BEFORE MY BOOK THAT THEY WERE FOLLOWING IN THEIR MOTHERS FOOTSTEPS.

>> LET'S TURN TO YOUR BOOK WHICH ALSO CELEBRATES THREE MOTHERS FROM A VERY PERSONAL POINT OF YOU.

THIS IS YOUR BIRTH MOTHER AND AUNT AND GRANDMOTHER.

TELL US ABOUT INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND HOW THEY SHAPED YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE MY MOM AND MY GRANDMOTHER MORE AND MORE AS I GET OLDER.

I REALIZE THEY ARE SO IRREGULAR.

SO ORDINARY.

PEOPLE EVEN IF THE GROCERY STORE.

PEOPLE YOU MET AT CHURCH.

REALLY INSTILLING STRONG VALUES.

THEY ALWAYS TAUGHT MYSELF AND MY COUSINS AND MY BROTHER THAT WE WERE NOT BETTER THAN PEOPLE.

NO ONE WAS BETTER THAN US.

THEY WERE VERY CLEAR THAT WAS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

ANYTIME I GOT KICKED OUT OF CLASS.

ANYTIME I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS TREATING UNFAIRLY.

BE IN THE CLASSROOM AND SIT DOWN WITH ME.

I WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT SERVICE.

I REMEMBER BEING HUNGRY THEN WATING TO PASS OUT AND SAY WE WILL EAT LATER.

OR THEY CAN LESSEN HOSPITAL WITH MY GRANDMOTHER TO TALK TO FOLKS IN THERE AND REALIZING THAT WITHOUT GIVING LECTURES OR SPEECHES THEY WOULD TEACH ME WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A GOOD PERSON.

TO BE A LEADER TO SERVE.

SPIKE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THREE YEARS, YOU TWO HAVE BECOME PARENTS RESELL.

>> TWICE.

>> CHILDREN A BOY AND A GIRL, RIGHT?

TELLS ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, BECOMING PARENTS YOURSELF HAS INFORMED YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT MOTHERHOOD IN THE LAST MINUTE WE HAVE TOGETHER.

>> YES, WELL, I WAS WRITING THE BOOK WHEN WE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTING.

I WAS SO WELL AWARE OF THE MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS PEER, AWARE OF HOW DIFFICUL AND DANGEROUS IT COULD BE TO BECOME A BLACK MOTHER.

SO AT FIRST MY EXPERIENCE WAS ONE WITH A LOT OF FEAR BECAUSE OF MY KNOWLEDGE.

IN STUDYING WOMEN ACTUALLY GAVE ME SUCH A WARM WELCOME INTO MOTHERHOOD.

>> I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST HERE.

>> IT IS HARD.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS.

AS A FORMER GOVERNOR.

OUR SON WAS BORN AND IT HIT ME THE GOVERNMENT HAS SO MANY THINGS WITH ISSUES.

SOCIAL ISSUES WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE IT.

BECAUSE WE DO NOT GIVE PARENTS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE PARENTS OR EFFECTIVE PARENTS FROM HEALTHCARE TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE TO INCOME.

NOW IT'S MORE CLEAR THAN EVER THAT THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO PARENT AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED PARTICULARL MOTHERS.

WHAT THEY NEED TO RAISE HER CHILDREN.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

>> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

>>> APPLE ASPARAGUS APRICOTS AND MORE AND SEASON THIS SPRING.

ARAMBULA PRODUCE IN THE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THIS WEEK.

FARMERS MARKETS IN ALAMEDA AND BERKELEY BRIGHTON THE STREETS WITH BOOTHS BURSTING WITH DELICIOUS REGIONAL FLAVORS.

>>> AHEAD UP INTO A FARMERS MARKET IN FAR TOO LONG.

THAT IS INSPIRING ME TO CHECK IT OUT.

THIS WEEKEND I AM GOING.

>>> THAT DOES IT THE END OF THE SHOW TONIGHT.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE OR ON TWITTER OR EMAIL US.

YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR ADS KQED.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE WILL SEE RIGHT BACK HERE NEXT FRIDAYNIGHT.

HAVE A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

AND GREAT WEEKEND.