Unpaywalled Version: https://archive.ph/n9NWZ
With increasing dogmatism on the far right, ideology that should have become extinct rears its ugly head. If we don’t stop this, a lot of innocent people will get hurt in the end.
Margaret Sanger, founder of planned parent hood, was a racists and huge supporter of eugenics, she even spoke at Klan meetings. In 1939 she started “The Negro Project”, a plan to target black communities. Here are some of her quotes.
We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population…" – Letter to Dr. Clarence J. Gamble, December 10, 1939, p. 2
“Apply a stern and rigid policy of sterilization and segregation to that grade of population whose progeny is tainted, or whose inheritance is such that objectionable traits may be transmitted to offspring.”- from “My Way to Peace,” Jan. 17, 1932. Margaret Sanger Papers, Library of Congress 130:198.
“Permits for parenthood shall be issued upon application by city, county, or state authorities to married couples, providing they are financially able to support the expected child, have the qualifications needed for proper rearing of the child, have no transmissible diseases, and, on the woman’s part, no medical indication that maternity is likely to result in death or permanent injury to health.” – Margaret Sanger, “America Needs a Code for Babies,” Article 5, March 27, 1934.
“Birth control itself, often denounced as a violation of natural law, is nothing more or less than the facilitation of the process of weeding out the unfit, of preventing the birth of defectives or of those who will become defectives… If we are to make racial progress, this development of womanhood must precede motherhood in every individual woman.” — “Woman and the New Race,” 1920
I don’t think many people aware of the history of Planned Parenthood would argue Margaret Sanger didn’t advocate eugenics, including Planned Parenthood
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-history
“Margaret Sanger’s racism and belief in eugenics are in direct opposition to Planned Parenthood’s mission. Planned Parenthood denounces Margaret Sanger’s belief in eugenics. Further, Planned Parenthood denounces the history and legacy of anti-Blackness in gynecology and the reproductive rights movement, and the mistreatment that continues against Black, Indigenous, and other people of color in this country.”
Turns out that an organization can engage in self reflection and change beliefs over a century
PP denied and justified Sanger’s ideas up until 3 years ago before that she was just allaying with the eugenics movement to further her goals.
Convincing undesirables that they shouldn’t have children sure seems to align with PP’s values. It seems PP just broadened their views to the “poors” and not just raced based.
PP denied and justified Sanger’s ideas up until 3 years ago
Do you have a source for this?
Sure.
But Planned Parenthood neither is nor prescribes a “stern rigid policy of sterilization and segregation” to anybody. And on that endeavor, it’s clear she failed spectacularly.
Furthermore, modern Planned Parenthood espouses feminist values, which are in direct opposition to the ideals of eugenics and segregation.
I don’t think Sanger’s original mission is even remotely applicable to the modern organization. So, I can’t really see how it is currently racist, even if that’s how it started.
Not really relevant but modern femist values are agnostic to racial segregation.
Sanger’s style of eugenics is compatible with PP’s modern values, convincing the undesirables the best option for them is not to reproduce. Forced eugenics was not Sanger’s style she was a coerced eugenics kind of gal.
Up until 3 or 4 years ago Sanger was still beatified inside PP. Her actions and message was downplayed and justified.
modern femist values are agnostic to racial segregation.
Maybe modern white feminist values are, like more women in the boardrooms. The rest of it is diametrically opposed to racial segregation.
