The Story of Jane

The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service by Laura Kaplan
1996
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

This was a great book.  I want everyone to read it.  This group was started in 1969, and the brave and passionate women who organized and ran it are true heroines.  I remember reading this as a teenager and feeling tremendously inspired.  I took it with me to college, and I have told the story of Jane to many many people since.  I thought about them at every March For Women's Lives, every time we stood outside the abortion clinic trying to block the pro-life protesters from harassing the women walking in, every time I turned on the news and heard some new twist or turn in the great abortion debate.

They set up an underground abortion referral group without the internet or computers.  News of Jane was spread by word of mouth, and it was in the phone book under Jane.  They performed over 11, 000 abortions in the 4 years they operated until Roe V. Wade.  They provided counseling and would do the abortions for around $100, though they would work with women who could not afford the fee.  They attempted to check in on the women after they returned home and the women's mental and physical health were of utmost importance.  No patient was ever arrested, but 7 of the women working within the organization were.

This book is written by one of the members in the group and offers a lot of insight into the illegal activities of a very important and life-changing organization that saved the lives of countless women in Illinois.  Did I mention it is amazing?   It is not only the story, though that would be enough.  The writing keeps you turning pages too.

Letters From the Underground

 To America with Love: Letters From the Underground  by Anita and Abbie Hoffman

2000

Weight: 9.6 oz

Method of Disposal: Donating or Giving Away

Yet again, I am not as inspired by a book in the way that others seem to be.  I am not sure what is wrong with me.  Am I jaded or just stupid?  Possibly neither and, of course, potentially both.  I picked this book up because I am always interested in reading about activism and influential people.  We need to learn from our past and present.  Combine as much information as possible so that we too can attempt to shape our future. 

I love that this is a collection of letters.  The reader gets a glimpse of how difficult it was to be underground, but still just a glimpse.  Letters may have been a safer way to communicate, but there was still danger in them.  They could be incriminating.

I guess part of the problem is that Abbie Hoffman has never been that inspirational to me.  There are components of his life and his passion that I respect and others that I do not, but he really has not been a major influence in my own activism, thoughts, and work.

If you are at all curious you should give it a go.  As always, it can be yours free of charge.  

********Troy Davis’ Clemency Hearing is tomorrow.  Keep him and his family in your thoughts*******