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October 22, 2010

Mildred Jefferson: 'A Physician, a Citizen, and a Woman'

Jefferson, an eloquent leader of the pro-life movement and the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School, died October 15.

Paige Winfield Cunningham, guest blogger

There are few who can discuss abortion from as many perspectives as those held by Mildred Jefferson — the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and a lifelong pro-life activist, who passed away on October 15 at age 84.

She could talk about it as a doctor. She could talk about it as a woman. And, she could talk about it as a black woman.

mildredjefferson.jpg

Born to a Methodist minister in east Texas, Jefferson earned degrees from Texas College and Tufts University before graduating from Harvard in 1951. A surgical internship at Boston City Hospital eventually led to another trailblazing accomplishment: becoming the first female doctor at the former Boston University Medical Center.

Jefferson's involvement in the pro-life movement was prompted in the 1970s by a resolution passed by the American Medical Association allowing members to perform abortions if the procedure was legal in their states. She helped to found the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) and served as its president for three years, along with serving in several other pro-life groups.

Darla St. Martin of the NRLC told New York Times reporter Dennis Hevesi that no one spoke for the pro-life movement better than Jefferson: “She probably was the greatest orator of our movement. In fact, take away the probably.”

Hevesi also recollects Jefferson’s 1981 testimony before Congress in favor of a bill that would have turned abortion into legal murder:

Dr. Jefferson, a surgeon, was speaking in support of a bill, sponsored by Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, and Representative Henry J. Hyde, Republican of Illinois, that sought to declare that human life “shall be deemed to exist from conception.” Had it passed, it would have allowed states to prosecute abortion as murder. “With the obstetrician and mother becoming the worst enemy of the child and the pediatrician becoming the assassin for the family,” Dr. Jefferson continued to testify, “the state must be enabled to protect the life of the child, born and unborn.”

Jefferson was pro-life because — not in spite of — her occupation. She believed that performing abortions violated the Hippocratic Oath, reported the Pittsburgh Press in 1977.

Dr. Jefferson believes physicians have turned away from the Hippocratic tradition they’ve honored for 2,000 years. “I’m not willing to accept that role. People who arrange and provide abortions don’t realize the wreckage they leave behind, the depression.”
In that article, Jefferson also talked about abortion from the perspective of a black woman — a demographic overrepresented in the number of abortions performed (one CDC survey reports that African American women have abortions at three times the rate of white women and almost twice the rate of other racial groups). Wrote the Press:
The first black woman to be graduated from Harvard Medical School considers legal abortion most harmful to poor black women. “Blacks suffer more from abortion because what looks like help is actually striking against them. Blacks are fewer. They will disappear sooner,” said Dr. Mildred Jefferson. . . .

Jefferson spoke from all of her perspectives to fight abortion. Boston Globe reporter Kathleen Burge picked up on a quote from a 2003 profile in the magazine American Feminist — one that sums up the legacy of a woman who called the pro-life movement "second only to the abolitionist movement in the profound change it has brought about in American thinking":

“I am at once a physician, a citizen, and a woman, and I am not willing to stand aside and allow this concept of expendable human lives to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect, the privileged, and the planned have the right to live."
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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on October 22, 2010 9:43 AM

Comments

Its kind of sad, I actually don't live that far from where she was born (I went to Wiki to look it up once I saw the "East Texas" part), and this is the first I've ever heard of Dr. Jefferson. Thank you for sharing about her, her life, and her beliefs. She sounds like a remarkable woman. May her family and friends be comforted by the Lord during this time and may her legacy continue in those lives she impacted.

Posted By: Leslie | October 22, 2010 2:19 PM

Mildred Jefferson was in Dr. Frances Schaeffer's film series "What Ever Happened to the Human Race, along with Dr. Everett Koop. She indeed was a strong advocate for "life". She will be missed.

Posted By: Norma Collins | October 22, 2010 2:40 PM

An amazing story. Thank you for sharing it!

Posted By: Gina | October 22, 2010 3:50 PM

Admirable woman, in every way!

Posted By: Becky Osbun | October 22, 2010 5:57 PM

Thank you for this life summary of a faithful follower of Jesus and a courageous, prophetic witness to our society. I found it encouraging to hear her story. May God raise up many others like her.

Posted By: Chuck | October 23, 2010 11:29 AM

Sadly, there has not been much recognition by the black community. Where is the Rev. Al Sharpton? Where is the Rev. Jesse Jackson? Where is President Obama? Where is Speaker Pelosi? Where is the NAACP? Where is the NOW? And where is Planned Parenthood? Shouldn't they be proud of Dr. Jefferson's accomplishments and hold her up as a role model for blacks and women?

Posted By: Joe Chan | October 23, 2010 11:59 AM

Tropars in Tone 4 sing, "With the souls of the righteous dead give rest, O Saviour, to the soul of thy servant, preserving it unto the life of blessedness which is with thee, O thou who lovest mankind. In the place of thy rest, O Lord, where all thy Saints repose, give rest also to the soul of thy servant; for thou only lovest mankind. Glory . . ."

I Thess. 4:13-17 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Grant it, O Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Posted By: Dan | October 23, 2010 12:48 PM

As a lawyer, a citizen, a woman, and as a Christian, I respectfully disagree with Dr. Jefferson. I honor her achievements and her testimony, but I must disagree.

BTW, it's important to note that she is telling the truth about the legal effect of the human life ("life begins at conception") amendment, the legislation about which she was testifying in the quote in the article. If passed it WOULD allow abortion to be prosecuted as murder. When I have made that point in the past, some have denied that fact. Dr. Jefferson had the courage of her convictions and did not lie, as some do, about what they are about.

Posted By: Christian Lawyer | October 25, 2010 9:41 AM

Dr. Jefferson understood the abortion issue better than anyone: a baby inside the womb is everybit human as one outside the womb. Those who maintain a movable moral code based on fuzzy and wishful thinking, a misunderstanding of biology, and an inadequate understanding of the Bible cannot and never will understand. Paul said it well: "... when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools..."

Posted By: Dan | October 26, 2010 7:47 AM

When the film series, "Whatever Happened to the Human Race" was previewed in Tampa, Florida, I drove (using U.S. 41, "The Blvd. of Broken Springs," to view it.

Dr. C. Everett Koop and Dr. Francis Schaefer appeared. But it was the strikingly poised Dr. Jefferson who carried the day. Her ram-rod straight stature, her clear, well-spoken presentation caused us to be riveted on every word.

Surely, she heard from her Savior, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Posted By: Jack Graham | October 26, 2010 9:06 PM

This is the first I've heard of this magnificent woman. How I wish I could have known her, or at least known of her! It is so rare these days to hear someone speak such profound truth and have such courage to stand by their convictions. Evidently, she was ignored by our government leaders just as prophets of the Lord were ignored by kings. Nevertheless, given time, the truth will out. May her tribe increase and increase and increase! Truly, the memory of the just is blessed.

Posted By: jules | October 31, 2010 12:45 AM

Sharpton, Jackson, Pelosi and company are not Christians. So, of course, they would not mention or support the doctor.

Sounds like she was a woman of Proverbs 31, "...open thy mouth ... in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction."

Posted By: Lucille | October 31, 2010 3:50 AM

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