North Carolina Committed Genocide Against Black People from 1958-1968, Duke Researchers Say

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- In a recent study published in the American Review of Political Economy, authors claim the Eugenics Board of North Carolina committed genocide against Black people from 1958-1968.

The 22-page study focused on the time period from 1958-1968 because current litigation and accessibility preclude research and compilation of data. Aggregate data prior to 1958 was available, however, information was not categorized by the state's 100 counties.

"I think it just helps us realize that this really wasn't that long ago," said Dr. Rhonda V. Sharpe, who co-authored the study. Sharpe currently serves as president of the Women's Institute of Science, Equity, and Race in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Duke University African American Studies and Economics professor Dr. William Darity Jr., and Dr. Gregory Price from the University of New Orleans' Department of Economics and Finance co-authored the study with Sharpe.

"When you use the term genocide, it really brings home the fact that this isn't just over reproductive behavior, it's really about eliminating a group of people," Sharpe said. "And in this instance, it's Black people."