Two quotes, separated by a century, both aimed at immigrants. Both relied on xenophobic logic and pseudoscientific understandings of heredity that define eugenics. Donald Trump has resurrected these key lies to appeal to 21st-century American anxieties. In his worldview, there are hereditary haves and have-nots, using biology to create artificial divisions and dehumanize certain groups.
Eugenics, debunked as both biologically unsound and morally repugnant, is being repackaged by Trump and his supporters. They propagate the idea that some people are inherently broken, evil, and other based on their genes. This divisive rhetoric mirrors the sentiments of eugenicists from a century ago who targeted immigrants from various European and Asian countries, believing that genes for crime and poverty were being brought into the U.S. by immigrants.
Harry Laughlin, a prominent American eugenicist, advocated for sterilization of those deemed unfit and pushed for immigration restrictions based on eugenic principles. The Immigration Act of 1924, influenced by eugenic ideas, set up a restrictive quota system that excluded hundreds of thousands of people from making the U.S. their home.
However, anti-eugenic scientists began to challenge the biological myths propagated by eugenicists like Laughlin. Genetic research revealed the complexity of the human genome and debunked the existence of genes for traits like crime and poverty. Social scientists highlighted how environmental factors, not genetics, were the root causes of social issues.
Despite scientific advancements, Trump continues to espouse eugenic beliefs, claiming that some people have “bad genes” and are poisoning the country. His rhetoric targets immigrants from countries like Venezuela, Haiti, Guatemala, and Honduras, perpetuating false ideas of innate criminality and poverty genes.
America, a nation built by immigrants from diverse backgrounds, cannot afford the division and violence that Trump’s racism based on false science brings. Eugenics wrought havoc on the nation in the past, providing a scientific facade for discrimination and intolerance. It is essential to reject these disproven theories and embrace the diversity and richness of all individuals, regardless of their genetic makeup.
In conclusion, Trump’s use of eugenic theories to stir racial hatred is dangerous and divisive. We must learn from history and reject these harmful ideologies to create a more inclusive and compassionate society.
