Quote by Angela Y. Davis
Media mystifications should not obfuscate a simple, perceivable fact; Black teenage girls do not create poverty by having babies. Quite the contrary, they have babies at such a young age precisely because they are poor --because they do not have the opportunity to acquire an education, because meaningful, well-paying jobs and creative forms of recreation are not accessible to them... because safe, effective forms of contraception are not available to them.
Summary
This quote highlights the misconception perpetuated by the media that suggests black teenage girls cause poverty by having babies. The statement emphasizes the opposite, asserting that these girls become mothers at a young age due to the realities of their impoverished circumstances. Lack of educational opportunities, limited access to well-paying jobs and recreational activities, and the unavailability of safe contraception contribute to this situation. The quote challenges the idea that these girls are the cause of poverty and instead directs attention to the systemic issues that prevent them from breaking the cycle of poverty.