Should We Right Past Wrongs?

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Elaine Riddick was a victim of forced sterilization and is hoping to be compensated by the state.

  The North Carolina Eugenics program that ended in 1974 has been the subject of efforts by state officials to compensate victims for the forced sterilization that occurred here from 1929-1974. Former Governor Mike Easley formally apologized for the actions of state leaders from that time several years ago, but reparations efforts have so far failed. Some of the arguments in the reparations debate were that paying the victims will not right the wrong that had been done to them. Today, we'll discuss the ethics of reparation, and whether today's generation has an obligation to right the wrongs of previous generations.

Guests
Dr. Dan Grano - Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte
Dr. Margaret Quinlan - Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte
Elliot Hamer - MA student in the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte
Kirsten Sikkelee - CEO of the YWCA of Charlotte

• "Discrimination in the NC Eugenics Program: Did Race and Money Matter?" is Tuesday, Jan 29th 8-9:30am at YWCA Central Carolinas. Details.