It has been a difficult and heavy couple of months. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many women, especially Black women, are left feeling scared, worried, and unheard.

Judge Shermela Williams and Monica Simpson join the Monuments to Me podcast to help make sense of it all. Judge Shermela Williams was elected to be superior court judge in 2021, making her a part of a small rare club of Black female judges. Prior to her election, she was a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney.

Monica Simpson is a dynamic, queer, Black woman from North Carolina. She is the executive director of Sister Song, a Southern-based, women of color reproductive justice collective. Monica has dedicated her life and career to activism, working in multiple areas from the prison industry, violence against Black women, and LGBTQ+ issues.

In this conversation, Monica and Judge Shermela break down how we got to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 so that we can better understand how and why this happened. Then, they share why it’s important to understand how this ruling doesn’t just affect Black women, but Black women of a certain socioeconomic status and what this means for them. The issue of white supremacy is also discussed as it is deeply interlaced with this ruling. Finally, Judge Shermela and Monica share how they’re taking care of their mental health and well-being since their line of work is incredibly taxing and heavy.

This episode is a must-listen for women everywhere as we try our best to move forward and create a truly accessible society where all women have the basic right of bodily autonomy.

To learn more about our hosts Akilah and Tyi make sure you check out their Instagram pages.

Tyi @tyi.mccray

Akilah @akilahffriend

And please email the show at [email protected]