Too often, abortion testimonies in churches—especially Black churches—end up reinforcing stereotypes rather than breaking them. Black women are disproportionately asked to testify or lead ministries, subtly implying that we are expected to struggle: to get pregnant young, to face unplanned pregnancies, or to struggle in marriage and motherhood.

I’ve witnessed this firsthand. At my church, two Black women shared abortion testimonies—one a teen mom, another coerced due to financial hardship in her marriage. Their experiences were real, valid, and painful—but the repeated focus on Black women’s “struggle” feeds a harmful narrative: that we are sexually irresponsible, doomed for hardship, or somehow less capable of thriving in family life. Meanwhile, white women’s experiences—planned or unplanned pregnancies, abortions, or struggles—often remain invisible or unexamined.

In my book, I approach abortion differently. I write from compassion and reality: acknowledging rape, incest, and pregnancy scares, including my own experience after being assaulted. But I also focus on the choice to carry a pregnancy, what God can do in those circumstances, and how fear-based church messaging often drives women toward abortion. The goal isn’t shame—it’s support, understanding, and practical guidance to navigate unplanned pregnancies without reinforcing stereotypes or fear.

Black women don’t need to be the “poster child” for struggle or sexual irresponsibility in the church. We need narratives that reflect resilience, autonomy, and grace—stories that show that life’s challenges don’t define us.