dominic_t's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is an absolutely fantastic book. The introduction provided context by giving the history of the real life events that inspired this play; it also talked about why the author chose to set the play in Chicago. This context allowed me to understand the play in a deeper way.
The play itself was really engaging. The characters were fleshed out, which was really impressive since the play was really short. The ending was open-ended, and I think that was a good choice.
The final part of the book was an interview with Toni Bond, one of the activists who helped found the reproductive justice movement. It was very interesting and inspiring to hear her describe her work. I loved hearing a first person narrative of how the movement started. I want to pull out a couple amazing quotes. I read this as an ebook, so I don't have the page numbers.
"Reproductive justice is grounded in Black feminist thought and a human rights framework. It rests now on four pillars: the right to have a child or not have a child; the right to parent the children they have with the social and economic supports they need to not just survive but to thrive; to live free from violence (community-based and state-based violence) and also the right to sexual pleasure and to express their sexuality in the ways that they desire."
"Reproductive justice is really about movement-building. It is about centering the voices and the lives of the people who have been historically disenfranchised and relegated to the margins of the health and rights movement. Reproductive health is about provision of services. Reproductive rights are about protecting legal rights. Reproductive justice is about building a movement that is working toward securing the human rights of all to live reproductively and sexually healthy lives. That’s the difference between the three and we need all three because people need reproductive and health services."
You can find information about Chicago Abortion Fund and the Afiya Center (and links to donate to them) at abortionfunds.org.
The play itself was really engaging. The characters were fleshed out, which was really impressive since the play was really short. The ending was open-ended, and I think that was a good choice.
Spoiler
Part of the play focused on a political race for city council and how the abortion billboard controversy impacted that race. We don't find out who won the race. It is stated in the play that the antagonist didn't have a chance at winning, but the incumbent still changed her mind about helping the health center get a grant because she was worried about the race. I think the choice not to center thus political race was a good one. It sent the message that electoral politics can't be the center of the fight for justice and placed the focus squarely on this center doing community work.The final part of the book was an interview with Toni Bond, one of the activists who helped found the reproductive justice movement. It was very interesting and inspiring to hear her describe her work. I loved hearing a first person narrative of how the movement started. I want to pull out a couple amazing quotes. I read this as an ebook, so I don't have the page numbers.
"Reproductive justice is grounded in Black feminist thought and a human rights framework. It rests now on four pillars: the right to have a child or not have a child; the right to parent the children they have with the social and economic supports they need to not just survive but to thrive; to live free from violence (community-based and state-based violence) and also the right to sexual pleasure and to express their sexuality in the ways that they desire."
"Reproductive justice is really about movement-building. It is about centering the voices and the lives of the people who have been historically disenfranchised and relegated to the margins of the health and rights movement. Reproductive health is about provision of services. Reproductive rights are about protecting legal rights. Reproductive justice is about building a movement that is working toward securing the human rights of all to live reproductively and sexually healthy lives. That’s the difference between the three and we need all three because people need reproductive and health services."
You can find information about Chicago Abortion Fund and the Afiya Center (and links to donate to them) at abortionfunds.org.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Moderate: Abortion
mbl98's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Misogyny
carolinemwatson's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Abortion, and Racism
dany_casimiro's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A story that simplifies the issue of abortion in the US. Moore's exploration of how politics interact and interfere with racial, gender, and class affairs, provides a satisfactory introduction to the notion of intersectionality, as well as to the ways intersectional discrimination and prejudices oppress Black women.
Published and performed for the first time scant months before the Dobbs' decision, I can definitely see how The Billboard might have helped open and foment the discussion on different faces of abortion and female struggles at the time. It is now 2023, and perhaps its meaning has shifted, perhaps not. But it prevails as a product of its time and a producer of important questions, even after the infamous Supreme Court's judgment.
Published and performed for the first time scant months before the Dobbs' decision, I can definitely see how The Billboard might have helped open and foment the discussion on different faces of abortion and female struggles at the time. It is now 2023, and perhaps its meaning has shifted, perhaps not. But it prevails as a product of its time and a producer of important questions, even after the infamous Supreme Court's judgment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, Violence, and Xenophobia
poigraph's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Powerful, focused and diving straight in, Natalie Y. Moore’s The Billboard could not come at a more perfect time with the book debuting in March 2022 only to have Roe v. Wade overturned by SCOTUS in June 2022. While the focus of the play centers around dueling billboards about abortion that go up in the predominantly black neighborhood of Englewood here in Chicago, one billboard focuses on giving agency and a voice back to the women themselves who face decisions around choices for their own body, health care and self care. #TrustBlackWomen.
peachani's review against another edition
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Minor: Classism, Pregnancy, and Racism
maxcarwile's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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