Pro choice or pro life?

I Am Roe: My Life, Roe v. Wade, and Freedom of Choice
by Norma McCorvey

Remember the Courier editorials last month? Even after all these years Roe v. Wade still creates quite a stir.

"I Am Roe" is the autobiography by the original Jane Roe of that case - Norma McCorvey. Norma's story is an extremely sad and disturbing one.

Born in 1947 in Lettesworth, Texas, Norma Leah Nelson had no good role models for happy, respectful relationships while growing up.

During her life she had three children. Her first daughter, Melissa, was conceived when she was married briefly to Woody McCorvey. Norma unknowingly signed over the parental rights to Melissa to her mother. The second child she gave up for adoption. Unemployed, depressed, and broke, she wanted an abortion when she discovered that she was pregnant again. The year was 1970.

In 1970, at the age of 21, she met lawyer Sarah Weddington who was looking for a woman to be a plaintiff to challenge Texas anti-abortion laws. This lawsuit became the historic Roe v. Wade. Norma was clueless as to what was going on with the lawsuit. She only agreed to be the plaintiff because she wanted out of her pregnancy. The lawsuit did not help her at all, since the Supreme Court decision did not come down until 1973. She gave the third child up for adoption.

Just a reminder though, since this book was written 12 years ago, "I Am Roe" was written before Norma McCorvey became pro-life.

c Waterloo Public Library 2006