Anti-abortion billboards that say 'Black children are an endangered species' are causing controversy in the American state of Georgia.

'Georgia Right to Life' launched the campaign to try and persuade black women not to have abortions.

The organisation says nearly 40% of all black women's pregnancies end in abortion, more than three times the rate of white women.

Some black activists are making historical comparisons between abortion and slavery, and talking of ethnic cleansing and "womb-lynching."

They also accuse the pro-choice Planned Parenthood organisation of supporting selective breeding to control black people.

Supporters of a woman's right to abortion say the real issue is not racism but poverty and poor education among black women.

The BBC's Lawrence Pollard heard from Loretta Ross, of the pro-choice SisterSong Collective, and Dr Alveda King, anti-abortion campaigner and niece of Dr Martin Luther King.

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First broadcast 5 March 2010