An academic journal retracted an article arguing that “abortion restrictions are good for black women” because a white man wrote it.

New Bioethics Editor Matthew James told author Perry Hendricks that extra “sensitivity” is needed when “white authors write about racial inequalities” or “male authors write about women’s rights.” Hendricks posted screenshots of the communications on X (formerly Twitter).

The journal had already published the article, but rescinded it. Hendricks, a philosopher, argued that it is good to stop someone from committing immoral acts. Black women have abortions at higher rates than white women.

“I show that abortion restrictions are good for women, and in particular black women,” he wrote.

“(In fact, if we’re interested in equity, we should be especially concerned with this, since black women stand to be benefited most from abortion restrictions, and they stand to be hurt most by a lack of abortion restrictions),” he wrote further.

“This is because being prevented from performing a morally wrong act is good for someone,” he wrote. “And since abortion is morally wrong, abortion restrictions are good for women, and in particular for black women.”

Hendricks pointed out to The College Fix, which originally reported on this story, that James’ comments appear to contradict editorial guidelines for the journal.

New Bioethics is published by Taylor and Francis Insights.

Company guidelines state: “Journal editors must give unbiased consideration to each manuscript submitted. They should judge each on its merits, without regard to race, religion, nationality, gender, seniority, or institutional affiliation of the author.”

“It’s a little embarrassing to have to explain this, but whether an argument is sound has nothing to do with the sex and race of the author—this is something any adult knows,” Hendricks told The College Fix.

Hendricks is correct.

The truth of a message does not change based on who is saying it.

Hendricks presented a provocative way to think about pro-life laws. Academia should welcome his approach to discussing abortion and not try to shut him down because he is a white male expressing a disapproved viewpoint.

Academic journal readers ostensibly read such journals because they want to learn about other arguments and consider new ideas. Hendricks presented a different way to think about abortion and how preventing people from doing bad things is good for them.

This kind of objective morality is needed in higher education and society in general, no matter the identity of the person presenting it.