The American Eugenics Movement and Its Afterlives

When we think of eugenics, our minds usually turn to Nazi Germany and the horrors of the T4 program and the Holocaust. We tend to overlook the profound impact of eugenic ideologies and practices on US history, including in New England, which was a center of US eugenic activity. From anti-miscegenation laws to immigration restrictions to involuntary sterilization laws, eugenic practices were widely adopted across the United States, often serving as exemplars for National Socialist ideologues. Eugenic principles and practices also had a profound influence on the field of education, shaping a range of practices that continue to this day.

Please join CHGS staff, Dr. Daniel Martinez HoSang (Yale University) alongside Marco Cenabre and A’Lexus Williams, New Haven Connecticut teachers and members of the Anti-Eugenics Collective at Yale (AECY), for a workshop on the history of the American eugenics movement where we will explore strategies and resources that can be used to teach this topic effectively.

School districts wishing to send teams of teachers, as well as individual teachers wishing to learn more about the workshop, associated fees, and to reserve a spot, should contact us at chgs@salemstate.edu.