March 02, 2008
Justice (Still) Deferred...
| As we are winding down our 32 Days of Black History blogathon, I wanted to comb through my previous years' Black history posts to provide updates. I immediately thought of this story about the victims of one state's involuntary sterilization efforts. Unfortunately, I could find no evidence that any kind of reparations have been made. Well, even more reason, I guess, to revive this post... |
Sometimes justice can be so elusive, can't it? Bad enough that often it is overdue. But then, when it finaly seems within our reach, it sometimes slips away...or we're only able to grab hold of a little piece of it...
These days eyes tend to be directed to the U.S Supreme Court, and the future of the battle over abortion choice and access. In this social context, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that historically, for many women the central reproductive struggle has not involved abortion rights. Instead it has involved the right to conceive, bear, and provide for their children, as well as the right to maintain the authority to be parents of their children. From the buying and selling of the children of African-ancestry parents to the forced placement into "boarding schools" of the children of Native American parents to current day social service practices regarding the termination of parental rights that disproportionately affect parents of color--This country has a pretty shameful history when it comes to disallowing some people their rights to become and remain parents.
A particularly egregious example of this is the history of forced sterilizations in this country in the name of "genetic fitness"--otherwise known as eugenics.
The targets of these forced sterilizations were folks who evidenced various combinations of being Black, poor, uneducated, deemed to be "promiscuous" or potentially promiscuous, deemed to be "feebleminded" or potentially so. These practices of sterilizing women and girls (and some men and boys) against their will and often without their knowledge sometimes went by the name "Mississippi appendectomies." A particularly aggressive program, however, occurred in North Carolina. From an excellent multipart program on the North Carolina efforts, "Against Their Will":
They were wives and daughters. Sisters. Unwed mothers. Children. Even a 10-year-old boy. Some were blind or mentally retarded. Toward the end they were mostly black and poor. North Carolina sterilized them all, more than 7,600 people.
For more than 40 years North Carolina ran one of the nation's largest and most aggressive sterilization programs. It expanded after World War II, even as most other states pulled back in light of the horrors of Hitler's Germany.
Some of these folks are still alive, still seeking justice--which means, of course, that they have had to come forward and publically share their stories:
In the file of Ernestine Moore, for instance, who was sterilized in 1965 in Pitt County at the age of 14, a social worker wrote that the people who lived near her were "of low incomes and low morals." Moore was classified as feebleminded, even though she wasn't.
In fact, the social worker wrote, "Ernestine has no appearance of retardation." Upon reading what was written in her file, Ms. Moore, 54, told The Journal that North Carolina should "pay for the pain" and suffering she's gone through since her sterilization.
In recent years, the state of North Carolina has agreed (story here). But, as fate would have it, carrying out this justice has not gone smoothly. Issues abound, regarding such things as where to get medical records to prove forced sterilization, whether or not such records are still available or had ever been kept at all, and adequately staffing efforts to process claims.
All signs look like justice will be delayed. Again. And my cynical side is whispering that there's a good chance justice may not come at all for these folks. Once again, they may have to make do with an official apology. For whatever (if anything) that is worth.
But. The hopeful side of me still has...hope. In the meantime, I will enjoy our State Fair this year much as I have every year since I began learning more about this country's eugenics past: With the ghostly narration in my mind of contests aimed at promoting good human stock along with the best ears of corn or plumpest sows.
(Image ID: 14) Title: Kansas State Free Fair, Topeka, Fitter Families Contest examining staff and "sweepstakes" winning family; Archival Information: AES,Am3,575.06,55
From the excellent site Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement:
At most contests, competitors submitted an "Abridged Record of Family Traits," and a team of medical doctors performed psychological and physical exams on family members. Each family member was given an overall letter grade of eugenic health, and the family with the highest grade average was awarded a silver trophy. Trophies were typically awarded in three family categories: small (1 child), medium (2-4 children), and large (5 or more children).
All contestants with a B+ or better received bronze medals bearing the inscription, "Yea, I have a goodly heritage." Childless couples were eligible for prizes in contests held in some states. As expected, the Fitter Families Contest mirrored the eugenics movement itself; winners were invariably White with western and northern European heritage.
I've mentioned before about how important it is for me to keep such history in my mind as I continue with my interests in researching issues of families and genetics. Late summer, right before the start of another school year is as good a time as any to give myself a booster shot of memory. Memory for the "non-placers" in the clean genes fairground competitions. Memory for the folks who were denied the chance to bear children to take to fairs in the first place.
| Thank you for visiting our 32Days blogathon project, with Deesha at Mamalicious! and me here at SITBB. We are joined by Tami; Inkognegro; Christina; and Chris. |