Since ancient Greece, humans have controlled populations via reproduction, retaining some traits and removing others. But in the 19th century, a new scientific movement dedicated to this endeavor emerged: eugenics. Scientists believed they could improve society by ensuring that only desirable traits were passed down. Alexandra Minna Stern and Natalie Lira detail the history of eugenics in the US. [Directed by Héloïse Dorsan-Rachet, narrated by Christina Greer, music by Stephen LaRosa].

Alexandra Minna Stern and Natalie Lira: The movement that inspired the Holocaust

The movement that inspired the Holocaust

In the shadows of Southern California, 1938, the tragic case of Andrea Garcia underscores a dark eugenics campaign against women of color.

California's repeal of sterilization laws in 1979 marked an end to a grim chapter, yet involuntary sterilizations quietly persist worldwide.

1938 California enacted eugenics laws, forcibly sterilizing those deemed 'unfit', reflecting a global pseudoscientific trend.