Author Edwin Black has an excellent article on the issue of compensation for the victims of American eugenics programs. A very important article on an issue that is definitely not discussed enough.
Thanks for the comment. I think that the issue of eugenics often gets buried because many important scientists, political figures, social reformers, and wealthy industrialists helped to promote or fund the ideology.
Andre Pichot, in his book "The Pure Society," discusses how the scientific community especially has helped to bury eugenics and downplay how widespread eugenic thinking was among mainstream biologists. Edwin Black's "War Against the Weak" is another good book on essentially the same topic
Thank goodness this is finally being talked about, but justice is hard to come by, and even harder as the years pass. For insight into how the eugenics movement turned against Native Americans in the otherwise fair-minded state of Vermont in 1930/31, see "Breeding Better Vermonters" by Nancy Gallagher, and the fictional approach, "The Darkness Under the Water," which I wrote (Beth Kanell).
California alone was responsible for about 1/3 of total sterilizations.
ReplyDeleteThis practice is inexcusable, but you would never hear about this in American history textbooks.
Very shocking, indeed.
Hello CA,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I think that the issue of eugenics often gets buried because many important scientists, political figures, social reformers, and wealthy industrialists helped to promote or fund the ideology.
Andre Pichot, in his book "The Pure Society," discusses how the scientific community especially has helped to bury eugenics and downplay how widespread eugenic thinking was among mainstream biologists. Edwin Black's "War Against the Weak" is another good book on essentially the same topic
Thank goodness this is finally being talked about, but justice is hard to come by, and even harder as the years pass. For insight into how the eugenics movement turned against Native Americans in the otherwise fair-minded state of Vermont in 1930/31, see "Breeding Better Vermonters" by Nancy Gallagher, and the fictional approach, "The Darkness Under the Water," which I wrote (Beth Kanell).
ReplyDeleteHello Beth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I will look up Nancy Gallagher's work and your book as well. Thanks again.