This TED Talk features writer, youth worker, and freedom fighter, Mewende Frequency Katwewa, recorded live at TED Women, 2017.

My name is Mwende Katwewa, and I am a poet, a Pan-Africanist, and a freedom fighter.

I was 23 years old when I first heard about reproductive justice.

I was working at women with a vision,

where I learned that reproductive justice was defined by sister song,

as one, a woman's right to decide if and when she will have a baby

and the conditions under which she will give birth.

Two, a woman's right to decide if she will not have a baby and the conditions under which she will give birth. Two, a woman's right to decide if she will not have a baby

and her options for preventing or ending a pregnancy.

And three, a woman's right to parent the children that she already has

in safe and healthy environments without fear of violence

from individuals or the government.

I've always wanted to be a mother.

Growing up, I heard all about the joys of motherhood.

I used to dream of watching my womb we've wandered into this world.

See, I knew I was young, but I figured it couldn't hurt

to start planning for something so big, so early.

But now, I'm 26 years old,

and I don't know if I have what it takes to stomach motherhood in this country.

See, over the years, America has taught me more about parenting than any book on the subject.

It has taught me how some women give birth to babies and others to suspects.

It has taught me that this body will birth kin

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