Teen Pregnancy

Sep 9 2011

The rate of teen pregnancy remains disproportionately high among African American teens

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Black youth report considerable pressure to have sex, according to a new survey of 1,500 Black youth ages 13-21 released by ESSENCE Magazine and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Of those who have had sex, 47% of those 13-21 (including 21% of those 13-15) say they have been pressured to go further sexually than they wanted to. The groundbreaking results are featured in the October issue of ESSENCE magazine.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Jul 7 2011

Redirecting their energy might be key to their success

The GIFT (Girls Interested in Finding the Truth) Rites of Passage program was created by Queen Aminah Muhammad as a way to do something about the negative influences impacting youth in South Los Angeles. The mission of the organization is to improve the lives of young women ages 10-19 who have been adversely affected by illiteracy, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, gang violence and other social problems, and to create positive change in their lives.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Jan 20 2011

Religious teen organization spreads the gospel

The Passion for Christ Movement (P4CM) is a grassroots ministry dedicated to helping Los Angeles County at-risk youth develop life skills and spiritual direction. The members of the movement are concerned with impacting the present generation to create a better future, and they offer their services to the community voluntarily.

P4CM has shared the gospel with people all over the world through their Internet testimonials and Ex-shirt campaign which is still going.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.