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The Billboard
The Billboard is about a fictional Black women’s clinic in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood on the South Side and its fight with a local gadfly running for City Council who puts up a provocative billboard: “Abortion is genocide. The most dangerous place for a Black child is his mother’s womb,” spurring on the clinic to fight back with their own provocative sign: “Black women take care of their families by taking care of themselves. Abortion is self-care. #Trust Black Women.” The book also has a foreword and afterword and Q&A with a founder of reproductive justice. As a play and book, The Billboard is a cultural force that treats abortion as more than pro-life or pro-choice.
100 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 26, 2024
The Billboard is an engaging play that combines the intensity of abortion care politics with the realities of running and working in a clinic that provides abortions, along with many other necessary services in an undeserved community, centring Black women at every step of the way. The characters are sympathetic, the drama feels all too real, and the ending gives us some hope for the future. It's a little hard to read post-Roe v Wade because all the goals feel so much further out of reach, but I think that makes it more necessary to read and absorb. The extra content before and after (especially the interview with Toni Bond) really added to the experience as well. Definitely recommended!
May 17, 2022
"The Billboard" is a simple yet impactful play, surrounding the conversation about abortion... specifically in Black communities, specifically in Chicago. The narrative sheds light on how politicians wield the controversy surrounding abortion for their own gains and how advocates for healthcare are called upon to fight that system (when really, they should be allowed to focus on taking care of people in their clinics!).
"The Billboard" uses the vehicle of theater to make arguments, illustrate the difficulty in the conversation, and shed light on the silver lining when it feels like we're all just covered in muck.
"The Billboard" uses the vehicle of theater to make arguments, illustrate the difficulty in the conversation, and shed light on the silver lining when it feels like we're all just covered in muck.
January 14, 2023
4.25/5*
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.
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.
May 20, 2022
A quick read about Black women fighting for neighborhood healthcare in Englewood. Powerful but feels somewhat hopeless reading it now…
May 22, 2022
Roe vs. Wade will likely be overturned this summer by the end of the Supreme Court's session in late June. This is an issue close to my heart as generations of women in my family have received abortion care. My great-grandmother, Alice, was a mother of three when she passed away from complications following a back-alley abortion procedure. This would not have happened if abortions were legal when she sought care. My mother was younger than I am now when she had her abortion. She was in an abusive relationship and wanted to go to college. She chose her future and, ultimately, to have me when she was ready to be a mother. She was able to exercise bodily autonomy because Roe protected this right.
I originally bought this play for her (thanks Semicolon Books!) but I can't help myself from reading something new from authors I haven't read before. It was a great quick read and I think that art about abortion is essential in the fight for choice. People need access to abortion. Point blank. Period. And Black women, in particular, need abortion access and protections on their right to choose. I have lived in Chicago almost my entire life and know how progressive this city is in many ways. One aspect that will always have room for improvement is resources for Black people in this city. The south and west sides of this city are historically Black neighborhoods and are always the last to receive city funding they deserve. This money, which is typically funneled into affluent neighborhoods that need it the least, could be used for health care, education, and programming for Black citizens. I love that this play demonstrates the great work being done by Black people who grew up in these areas and talks about an issue that is so important to me.
I don't read a lot of plays but I'm always trying to read different kinds of literature. I think it's difficult to read plays when you're removed from theatre the way that I am but I enjoyed the story and the innovative techniques that would really pop on stage. The story itself is adapted from the events of a Dallas abortion clinic. An abortion clinic put up a billboard featuring smiling Black women with the message that "Abortion is self-care." This was obviously quite controversial in the Lone Star State and it had a big impact on the local community and on the pro-choice movement nationally. I think that it's hard for me to picture the backlash from something like this being quite as severe in my neck of the woods but I could be wrong. I liked that it made me think about the fact that, even though this is a liberal city, there are still plenty of people who are anti-choice for a whole host of reasons. I can't let myself get lulled into a false sense of security just because of local politics. Someone will always try to take our rights.
I thought that the small cast was able to effectively tell this story without too much outside noise. It kept the play focused on the issue at hand. I really loved Kayla representing the young people who are involved in this cause and as a proud teller of her own abortion story. She shows what is possible when you choose your own course and don't let others tell you what to do with your body. I also really liked Tanya and Dawn, who provided some good inner conflict at the clinic. Abortion clinics aren't single-minded entities and often attract people who believe in the cause for a multitude of reasons and I like seeing that represented here.
I did think that the story was a little slow at times. Politics already play out on a stage so I think it's hard to adapt them and not have it feel like mere reenactment of a news story from a few cycles ago. I think that it was also hard to understand Demetrius and what his true beliefs are, outside of the money he receives from the wealthy white donors. I also thought that developing his relationship with Tanya a little more would be good for clarity but I think there's some of the vibe between them lost in reading rather than watching this play. Perhaps that could be resolved with some clever staging.
I'd really love to see this play staged and I'm curious whether it's been performed in the area. I am a firm advocate of abortion rights and I think that more creatives should get involved in the movement.
I originally bought this play for her (thanks Semicolon Books!) but I can't help myself from reading something new from authors I haven't read before. It was a great quick read and I think that art about abortion is essential in the fight for choice. People need access to abortion. Point blank. Period. And Black women, in particular, need abortion access and protections on their right to choose. I have lived in Chicago almost my entire life and know how progressive this city is in many ways. One aspect that will always have room for improvement is resources for Black people in this city. The south and west sides of this city are historically Black neighborhoods and are always the last to receive city funding they deserve. This money, which is typically funneled into affluent neighborhoods that need it the least, could be used for health care, education, and programming for Black citizens. I love that this play demonstrates the great work being done by Black people who grew up in these areas and talks about an issue that is so important to me.
I don't read a lot of plays but I'm always trying to read different kinds of literature. I think it's difficult to read plays when you're removed from theatre the way that I am but I enjoyed the story and the innovative techniques that would really pop on stage. The story itself is adapted from the events of a Dallas abortion clinic. An abortion clinic put up a billboard featuring smiling Black women with the message that "Abortion is self-care." This was obviously quite controversial in the Lone Star State and it had a big impact on the local community and on the pro-choice movement nationally. I think that it's hard for me to picture the backlash from something like this being quite as severe in my neck of the woods but I could be wrong. I liked that it made me think about the fact that, even though this is a liberal city, there are still plenty of people who are anti-choice for a whole host of reasons. I can't let myself get lulled into a false sense of security just because of local politics. Someone will always try to take our rights.
I thought that the small cast was able to effectively tell this story without too much outside noise. It kept the play focused on the issue at hand. I really loved Kayla representing the young people who are involved in this cause and as a proud teller of her own abortion story. She shows what is possible when you choose your own course and don't let others tell you what to do with your body. I also really liked Tanya and Dawn, who provided some good inner conflict at the clinic. Abortion clinics aren't single-minded entities and often attract people who believe in the cause for a multitude of reasons and I like seeing that represented here.
I did think that the story was a little slow at times. Politics already play out on a stage so I think it's hard to adapt them and not have it feel like mere reenactment of a news story from a few cycles ago. I think that it was also hard to understand Demetrius and what his true beliefs are, outside of the money he receives from the wealthy white donors. I also thought that developing his relationship with Tanya a little more would be good for clarity but I think there's some of the vibe between them lost in reading rather than watching this play. Perhaps that could be resolved with some clever staging.
I'd really love to see this play staged and I'm curious whether it's been performed in the area. I am a firm advocate of abortion rights and I think that more creatives should get involved in the movement.
June 27, 2022
15. A play: The Billboard by Natalie Y. Moore
List Progress: 19/30
Abortion is healthcare and should be a human right. And when abortion is restricted, it disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable populations: people of color, queer people, and disabled people. The Billboard, a new play by Chicago reporter Natalie Y. Moore, takes place at a Black women’s health clinic that gets yanked into local politics when an aspiring rabble-rouser politician puts up an inflammatory billboard in the majority-black neighborhood of Englewood. Based on a real event that Moore reported on in 2018, the billboard decries that “the most dangerous place for a Black baby is inside a Black woman’s womb”, positioning abortion as a sort of genocide and placing the blame fully at Black women’s feet. The clinic puts up its own billboard, reminding people that “Abortion is self-care”, and the debate is on, with people all across the country weighing in with every opinion under the sun. The Billboard captures a debate that continues to rage (and just got much harder) from a perspective that is not often represented in the media. The delivery of this story is not the most artful, but the content is powerful.
The Billboard seeks to capture a broad range of Black experiences with a small cast. The director of the clinic, Tanya, gets involved in the political debate to the detriment of her direct work with her patients, while lesbian board member Dawn cautious restraint. Young intern Kayla navigates the online aspect, and incumbent city councilor Sherry just wants to get through this unusually-difficult election, supporting and dropping the clinic as benefits her most at the moment. Then there is Demetrius: a craven, slimy conservative, railing against gentrification and white encroachment while being funded by white conservative groups, and willing to make a small city election into a firestorm if it will get him more attention. Demetrius is unfortunately realistic for the anti-choice voices of today, but for a fictional play, he could have used more nuance, especially given that he has a personal history with Tanya.
While stageplays are never going to read as well as they perform, even in text form it is clear that the dialogue is a little wooden. It often feels like characters are making big speeches about the nature of their work, to others that they work with on a daily basis, and that at some point their roles should have become more lived-in. But an actor with the right amount of warmth could bring the script around. The play actually has a performance run opening this week in 16th Street Theater in Chicago, and checking it out in-person or virtually would be a great way to experience this play.
The Billboard just became horribly, heartbreakingly dated: the characters discuss how, since abortion is legal across the country, there is no need to debate it in a local election. This play preserves one of the last moments that was true, at least for the time being. If for no other reason, this is an important play to read, and to reflect on how the Supreme Court’s decision will deprive communities of healthcare and women, especially Black women, of bodily autonomy. The script could use some tweaking, but the message is the most vital thing in the world.
Would I Recommend It: Read the play, donate to your own local provider of reproductive services, and work like hell to get the country back.
List Progress: 19/30
Abortion is healthcare and should be a human right. And when abortion is restricted, it disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable populations: people of color, queer people, and disabled people. The Billboard, a new play by Chicago reporter Natalie Y. Moore, takes place at a Black women’s health clinic that gets yanked into local politics when an aspiring rabble-rouser politician puts up an inflammatory billboard in the majority-black neighborhood of Englewood. Based on a real event that Moore reported on in 2018, the billboard decries that “the most dangerous place for a Black baby is inside a Black woman’s womb”, positioning abortion as a sort of genocide and placing the blame fully at Black women’s feet. The clinic puts up its own billboard, reminding people that “Abortion is self-care”, and the debate is on, with people all across the country weighing in with every opinion under the sun. The Billboard captures a debate that continues to rage (and just got much harder) from a perspective that is not often represented in the media. The delivery of this story is not the most artful, but the content is powerful.
The Billboard seeks to capture a broad range of Black experiences with a small cast. The director of the clinic, Tanya, gets involved in the political debate to the detriment of her direct work with her patients, while lesbian board member Dawn cautious restraint. Young intern Kayla navigates the online aspect, and incumbent city councilor Sherry just wants to get through this unusually-difficult election, supporting and dropping the clinic as benefits her most at the moment. Then there is Demetrius: a craven, slimy conservative, railing against gentrification and white encroachment while being funded by white conservative groups, and willing to make a small city election into a firestorm if it will get him more attention. Demetrius is unfortunately realistic for the anti-choice voices of today, but for a fictional play, he could have used more nuance, especially given that he has a personal history with Tanya.
While stageplays are never going to read as well as they perform, even in text form it is clear that the dialogue is a little wooden. It often feels like characters are making big speeches about the nature of their work, to others that they work with on a daily basis, and that at some point their roles should have become more lived-in. But an actor with the right amount of warmth could bring the script around. The play actually has a performance run opening this week in 16th Street Theater in Chicago, and checking it out in-person or virtually would be a great way to experience this play.
The Billboard just became horribly, heartbreakingly dated: the characters discuss how, since abortion is legal across the country, there is no need to debate it in a local election. This play preserves one of the last moments that was true, at least for the time being. If for no other reason, this is an important play to read, and to reflect on how the Supreme Court’s decision will deprive communities of healthcare and women, especially Black women, of bodily autonomy. The script could use some tweaking, but the message is the most vital thing in the world.
Would I Recommend It: Read the play, donate to your own local provider of reproductive services, and work like hell to get the country back.
July 25, 2023
I have the ficklest thoughts on this, cuz it’s gleaned from such compelling reproductive rights activism, so it’s obvi fascinating, but the way the plot flowed made it feel like it was being reported to me and not like I was in it. Idk i understand the conceit of historical(?) fiction, but I kept wishing for footnotes, or something, to see what scenes were direct references to events (and that’s just not a practical desire to have about a play.)
But then like, the writing that sandwiched the script was so interesting..
And it’s so short
And abortion is self care
So like I’m not gonna dislike it.
But then like, the writing that sandwiched the script was so interesting..
And it’s so short
And abortion is self care
So like I’m not gonna dislike it.
August 20, 2022
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.
August 24, 2022
Oh, this hits differently in this post-Roe era. There were times when I found my heart dropping, knowing that this play was written before our current reality and yet, all of the warning signs were right there on the page. I loved the play, and I loved the characters, and I truly hope someone puts on a production or staged reading soon.
April 8, 2023
Really easy to follow and an important exploration of the complexities of abortion and the necessity of letting people be in charge of their own reproductive choices (and nobody else's). Deals with issues of gentrification, exploitation of abortion to feed racist tropes and divide communities, the problematic narrative of "safe, legal, and rare," and much more. Deftly written.
April 21, 2025
This is a good little play. It might be a little lecturey in parts, but the subject matter is well presented, and the friendship between the three central women is well drawn I would really love to see this live.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews