I didn't intend for so much time to pass since writing my last blog post. I've been battling the overwhelm that so many of you are also experiencing, so I took just a short pause. As I have been gathering sources and outlining this post, I have been encouraged by the multitude of lawsuits filed, and actions taken against this administrations executive orders. At the same time, I continue to be horrified, yet not surprised, by the increasing presence of far-right extremism not only within the actions of this administration, but across so many domains in this country, with racism at the root of so much of it. So let's dive in to our topic for this blog post: racism, eugenics, and the narratives which fuel their survival.
Racism has been a central force in shaping American history, from slavery and Jim Crow laws to contemporary political battles over race-conscious policies. While overt, violent racism has been somewhat pushed to the margins of mainstream discourse, right-wing narratives have evolved to maintain racial hierarchies through coded language, policy choices, and historical revisionism. One of the most insidious historical undercurrents of these narratives is the eugenics movement—a pseudo-scientific justification for racial superiority that has deeply influenced conservative racial ideologies.
Historical Foundations of Racism in the United States
The concept of race as a hierarchical classification emerged to justify European colonial expansion, enslavement, and indigenous displacement. The ideology of white supremacy instructed that white people, namely those of Anglo European descent, were destined and divinely ordained to rule (cue Imperialism, Manifest Destiny, etc.) It is important to note that racism is directly tied to classism, as social, political, and economic dominance are part of white supremacist ideology. From the earliest colonial settlements, race became a social and legal construct used to maintain white dominance. The U.S. Constitution itself enshrined racial subjugation, counting enslaved Black people as three-fifths of a person for legislative representation while denying them citizenship and basic rights (Higginbotham, 1996).
Following the Civil War, the brief period of Reconstruction sought to extend civil rights to formerly enslaved people. However, white supremacist resistance led to the establishment of Jim Crow laws, which institutionalized segregation and disenfranchised Black Americans, and People of Color. These laws were justified through racist pseudoscience, including the eugenics movement—a key ideological precursor to modern right-wing racial narratives. We aren't going in depth here on the history of racism, or every narrative stemming from it. If you'd like more on history, I'll have some resources for you at the end of this post.
Eugenics and the Pseudo-Scientific Justification for White Supremacy
Eugenics, the belief in selectively breeding “desirable” human traits while eliminating “undesirable” ones, gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement was rooted in the racial hierarchy that placed Northern Europeans at the top and deemed Black people, Indigenous peoples, and other minorities as biologically inferior. Influential figures like Charles Davenport and Madison Grant promoted policies of forced sterilization, racial segregation, and anti-immigration laws to “preserve” the white race (Kevles, 1985).
One of the most infamous examples of eugenics-driven policy was the forced sterilization of thousands of Black, Indigenous, and disabled women through state-run programs. The Supreme Court upheld these policies in Buck v. Bell (1927), with Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes declaring, "Three generations of imbeciles are enough" (Lombardo, 2008). These policies persisted into the late 20th century, disproportionately targeting poor and minority women.
The eugenics movement in the United States directly influenced Nazi racial policies, yet its impact on American conservatism is often overlooked. Many modern right-wing racial narratives echo eugenicist thinking—particularly those that portray minority groups as biologically or culturally predisposed to criminality, poverty, or intellectual inferiority.
The Persistence of Eugenicist Narratives in Right-Wing Politics
The language and rationale behind today’s opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs echo the rhetoric of the eugenics movement. Though explicit eugenics rhetoric has faded from mainstream discourse, its underlying principles have persisted in right-wing ideology, often under the guise of “race realism” and “scientific racism.” Some key narratives include:
The Welfare Queen Stereotype and “Genetic” Poverty
During the Reagan administration, the "welfare queen" myth gained prominence, portraying Black women as genetically predisposed to laziness and reliance on government assistance (Gilliam, 1999). This narrative echoes early eugenics arguments that the poor were unfit to reproduce and should be discouraged from having children.
The “Great Replacement” Theory
A modern conspiracy theory claiming that white populations are being deliberately replaced by immigrants of color, this ideology is rooted in fears promoted by early eugenicists like Madison Grant, who warned that racial mixing would lead to white extinction (Betz & Meret, 2022). This theory has been echoed by right-wing politicians, including members of the Republican Party.
Opposition to DEI and Affirmative Action
The argument that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs constitute "reverse racism" is a direct descendant of the eugenicist claim that racial minorities are inherently less capable and should not receive "special treatment" (Feagin, 2013). Conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute have played a major role in dismantling DEI policies under the guise of “meritocracy.”
The "Meritocracy" Argument
The belief that success should be based purely on "merit" ignores the systemic barriers that have historically disadvantaged marginalized communities. This mirrors eugenicist arguments that claimed that social advancement was solely a matter of biological fitness.
Framing Racial Disparities as Natural Rather than Structural
Eugenicists argued that racial disparities in intelligence, wealth, and social status were the result of inherent genetic differences. Modern conservative critiques of DEI suggest that racial inequalities are either overblown or the result of personal failures rather than systemic discrimination.
Censorship of Racial Justice Education
Laws banning the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and discussions of systemic racism in schools are reminiscent of early 20th-century efforts to suppress racial equality movements. By silencing discussions of history, opponents of DEI perpetuate ignorance and reinforce racial hierarchies.
Trump’s 2025 Executive Orders: The New Face of Eugenicist Policy
Upon taking office for a second term in 2025, President Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting DEI initiatives, gender identity protections, and affirmative action. These orders included:
The Elimination of Federal DEI Programs
Trump’s 2025 executive order banned DEI training in federal agencies and government-funded institutions, echoing the eugenicist belief that racial inequalities are natural and should not be addressed.
The Restoration of Race-Blind Admissions and Hiring Policies
This order overturned affirmative action policies, arguing that racial disparities result from personal failings rather than systemic discrimination—an argument directly linked to eugenics-era claims about minority inferiority.
The Erasure of Transgender and Non-Binary Identities in Federal Law
Trump’s administration redefined gender strictly as biological sex, disregarding decades of medical and scientific research. This aligns with historical eugenicist policies that sought to enforce rigid social hierarchies based on race, gender, and ability.
Conclusion: How to Push Back Against Harmful Narratives
Understanding the historical connections between eugenics and contemporary right-wing narratives is crucial for dismantling systemic racism. Here are actionable steps readers can take:
Educate Yourself and Others
Read books and articles on systemic racism, eugenics, and historical oppression. Share this knowledge with people in your life.
I highly recommend engaging with the Overview and Timelines page provided by Racial Equity Tools
Support DEI Initiatives
Advocate for DEI programs in workplaces, schools, and local governments. Push back against legislative efforts to dismantle them. One of the most important things we can do is NOT prematurely comply with discriminatory executive orders or "directives" from our government at any level. Fear is a powerful tactic, and fear makes people prematurely comply.
Challenge Misinformation and Racist Narratives
The worst thing we can do is be silent when people around us say or do things which reinforce harmful narratives. Don't be a safe space for racism.c
Donate to Civil Rights Organizations
Organizations like the NAACP, ACLU, and the Southern Poverty Law Center work to combat racial injustice. I can offer you some search guidance here.
Advocate for Inclusive Education
Support teachers and curricula that accurately depict U.S. history, including its racist past and ongoing struggles for equality.
Contact your elected officials and tell them what you think! Every communication from constituents gets logged. Calling is best, or visiting them in person. Find out how to contact your elected officials here: ballotpedia.org/Who_represents_me
Get engaged with the Not a Safe Space campaign. I'll be sharing more action oriented and self-care resources there soon!
Check out my other campaign: White People Stand Up: Take Action Against Racism.
The fight against racism requires vigilance, education, and activism. By understanding the historical roots of contemporary racial narratives, we can work collectively to build a more just society. We don't have to be frantic and frozen bystanders. We CAN take meaningful action.
Stay tuned for the next blog in the I Am Not a Safe Space series.
References
ACLU. (2024). Voter suppression in America: A historical perspective. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/voter-suppression-history
Betz, H., & Meret, S. (2022). The great replacement theory and its political impact in the US and Europe. Journal of Political Extremism, 12(3), 198-214.
Feagin, J. R. (2013). Systemic racism: A theory of oppression. Routledge.
Gilliam, F. D. (1999). The “welfare queen” experiment: How viewers react to images of Black women on welfare. Public Opinion Quarterly, 63(1), 59-79.
Higginbotham, A. L. (1996). Shades of freedom: Racial politics and presumptions of the American legal process. Oxford University Press.
Kevles, D. J. (1985). In the name of eugenics: Genetics and the uses of human heredity. Harvard University Press.
Lombardo, P. (2008). Three generations, no imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Southern Poverty Law Center. (2024). The state of white nationalism in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.splcenter.org/white-nationalism-report
コメント