TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Jalynn Harris,
In your last piece, you ended with the line, “Up next ... a tangible analysis about why white people should stop procreating.” While I wholeheartedly agree with many of the things you’ve said in other columns, this is one sentiment I will not get behind.
Firstly, eugenics is not a joke. It is not something to be taken lightly. Ever. And you could have easily ended your column without minimizing the very real and very atrocious act of eugenics as well as the painful histories communities of all kinds have of it. Secondly, since you are a Womanist, I find your comment especially offensive, given that the cornerstone of Womanism is intersectionalities of oppression and privilege.
Eugenics is an atrocity many communities of color have faced over the course of history, including Indigenous people, Latinxs and Blacks. But although communities of color often fall victim to the heinous act, race is not the only reason people are persecuted. European Jews (who I’m assuming you consider white) have already been told to stop procreating. They have been told this for centuries.
The idea that people with serious mental illnesses should not procreate is one held today. People with mental handicaps and disabilities are already not being born because of prejudice in genetic testing. I hate to break it to you, but your analysis is not needed: the idea of getting rid of a few to make society better off is not remotely groundbreaking or enlightened. It’s simply bigoted and ignorant.
Marissa Krantz
Sophomore
Psychology
