My unit begins with a historical outline that explains how modern eugenics differs from its older incarnations. The first part analyzes how modern eugenics movements since the 1800s were formed in conjunction with the expansion and operation of European colonialism, white supremacy, and capitalism. The first assignment requires students to explore how different social groups were de-humanized via racist comics and given dignity through photojournalism.
The second part of the unit discusses early eugenics practices within the United States and explores how eugenics connects with US white supremacy and capitalism. The second assignment involves students reading articles on how eugenics was practiced across multiple industries and making a slideshow on how certain scholars influenced their fields while promoting eugenics.
The third part examines how eugenics is thoroughly inculcated into our daily lives today through our educational and economic systems while addressing more prominent examples of the overt promotion of eugenics in politics today. The third assignment requires students to conduct research in groups on how eugenics is still present today. The fourth part discusses disability justice activism and efforts to abolish eugenics. The final project involves selecting and researching an industry and proposing how to abolish eugenics.
(Developed for Sociology, grades 9-12; recommended for American History, Modern World History, African American History, and Latin History, grades 9-12)
