
I'll admit it: I have an addiction to cable TV shows that show human behavior at its most extreme: 'Intervention,' 'Hoarders,' 'Bridezillas' and 'Secret Lives of Women' are among the shows that keep my DVR busy. I guess the attraction of these shows is being reminded that no matter how crazy things get in my life, they nowhere near approach the drama that defines some peoples' lives. It's the old "at least I'm not that bad" syndrome.
So anyway, recently I was watching an episode of the 'Secret Lives of Women,' titled 'Born to Breed.' It's about the evangelical Christian Quiver Full movement, whose followers are inspired by Psalm 127:3-5 to have as many babies as possible. That passage says children are a reward from God and likens them to arrows in a man's quiver. It is in that spirit that the stars of a reality show TLC's '18 Kids and Counting' just had their 19th child.
Yep, that's a mighty full quiver for the Duggar family of Arkansas.
Michelle Duggar had a premature baby girl by emergency C-section yesterday evening, reports TLC. Josie Brooklyn Duggar was born at 6:27 p.m., weighing 1 pound, 6 oz. Her mom had been in the hospital being treated for gallstones.
Josie Brooklyn joins a brood of siblings that range in age from 1 to 21, and all have names that begin with the letter "J." Like her siblings (and many children of the Quiver Full movement), she will likely be home-schooled.
Although the patriarchal Quiver Full movement is dominated by white evangelicals, and some adherents allegedly promote white population growth, it does have some black followers. One of them is Theron Johnson, a Sacramento, Calif., resident who reportedly hopes for a world in which there's no racism and no right for women to vote. He and his wife, AnneMarie (who is white), have eight children and hope for more. They also home-school their children to protect them from the effects of racism and to make sure they are instilled with a moral code.
As someone who is married (without children) to a man who wholeheartedly believes in equal rights for women, I cannot imagine allowing myself to become a baby-making machine who submits to her husband. That being said, I respect any woman's right to dedicate her life to baby making and being submissive, as long as her children are safe and provided for. Not what I would do, but that's her choice.
And as a resident of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, I'll root for the well being of any child named after our illustrious borough of New York City. Go, Josie Brooklyn!
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Sheryl Huggins Salomon is contributing editor of Black Voices, where she writes about politics and society. She is co-editor of the 'Nia Guide for Black Women' series of self-improvement books and the former publisher of Shade magazine. Follow her on Twitter or contact her at BVCEditor@aol.com.


Comments: (8)
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By: ADMR on 12/11/2009 5:15PM
GUESS What??? K ****** is a Whore.
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By: Arjai on 12/12/2009 3:53PM
While I sincerely admire the Duggar family for getting (and staying) married and raising their children together as as family.....19 is more than enough.
I totaly respect the way that Michelle and Jim Bob are really hands on with all of their children. They are self sufficient and have little to no debt at all. On the outside, all appears to be well.
Still, a part of me doesn't feel that it is "fair" to the children to have to "help raise" the younger ones. I experienced that growing up and I know how it feels to want to just be "a child" and not have to raise my siblings. Now that I'm older I can see how it helped shape me into the person that I am today, but as a child...I was angry all the time because of it.
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By: deb on 12/12/2009 10:25AM
This is her body's way of lettering her know it is time to stop. This child will probably be a special needs child. She was only 6 months pregnant when she had this baby.
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By: Jacqueline Howard on 12/12/2009 11:13AM
While I am happy that the baby is doing well. I have to wonder what the public reaction would be to a person of color having 19 children.Fortunately
for Mrs. Dugger, she has a supportive husband who
won't leave her to fend for herself. I do wish them
well.
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By: fairminded1 on 12/12/2009 4:22PM
Plenty of people have premature infants at one or 2 children. So this means nothing. Question: Are they bothering anybody? Are they raising their kids to be positive people? Would I have that many children? No, no, no!!! But if they are raising their children right and not bothering anyone else, LEAVE THEM ALONE and pray for their premature baby.
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By: lvalentine on 12/12/2009 9:52PM
I am not quite sure what I feel about this. I can understand and believe God wants us to be fruitful and multiply and that children are indeed a gift, but in these days and times I can also see that a) it is hard to support them all b)It is hard to give them the individual attention they need and c)having that many children can't be good on the mother's body and it could be possible to have children with mental health issues when having so many children. Perhaps if a person lived on a farm and was well to do financially and had a lot of help and the mother was in very good health... maybe. But I have to lean toward it's not a good ideal.
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By: Cami on 12/13/2009 10:33PM
I wonder are Michell and Joe really afraid to be alone together. So if they keep the babies rolling kids will always be around.
I don't like the fact that the older kids have to the responsibilities of raising the younger kids. Seems like the parents have them then past them off to the other kids.
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