Disability & Eugenics – Pushing Limits – August 16, 2024

KPFA - Pushing Limits

Well, it’s time to dust off the old philosophy of ethics textbook. This week’s program takes a look at the Eugenics movement in the United States with Michael Rembis, Director of the Center for Disabilities at the University at Buffalo.

According to his profile on the University at Buffalo’s website, “Rembis’ research interests include the history of institutionalization, mad people’s history, and the history of eugenics. He has also studied and written about contemporary issues concerning mental health and mental illness and mass incarceration.”

Eugenicists frequently posed people with disabilities and non-white people as inferior, with devastating consequences including incarceration in institutions, and forced sterilization. Even ‘Progressive’ individuals backed various forms of the Eugenics movement. The Nazi regime under Hitler was influenced by American Eugenicists. Additionally, although Eugenics still has continuing effects, this week’s program will explore how the disability community has mobilized in combating this destructive movement.

This program is hosted by Edward Ytuarte.

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