Like threads in an old quilt, the origins of America’s largest abortion provider weave a troubling pattern that many would rather forget. A new documentary pulls back the curtain on Margaret Sanger’s founding vision for Planned Parenthood, revealing views that would shock most modern Americans.
“The most urgent problem today is how to limit and discourage the over-fertility of the mentally and physically defective,” wrote Sanger in her own words – a statement that echoes through time with chilling clarity.
The documentary “The 1916 Project” examines Sanger’s journey from operating an illegal birth control clinic in 1916 to establishing what would become a multi-billion dollar organization. Through meticulous research of Sanger’s personal writings and correspondence, the film constructs a portrait of a woman whose views on eugenics and population control would be considered extreme even by today’s standards.
As this old Texas journalist has seen, sometimes the most revealing stories come from letting historical figures speak for themselves. The documentary does exactly that, using Sanger’s own words to illuminate her beliefs about sterilization of those she deemed “unfit” and her vision for controlling population growth among certain communities.
In recent years, even Planned Parenthood has begun distancing itself from its founder’s legacy. In 2020, the organization’s Greater New York chapter removed Sanger’s name from its Manhattan Health Center, acknowledging what they called “contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color.”
The film, directed by David Coonradt and based on Seth Gruber’s book, connects historical dots between Sanger’s early advocacy and modern-day controversies surrounding abortion, euthanasia, and sex education. More than 1,000 churches nationwide have hosted screenings, sparking conversations that ripple through communities like waves across a pond.
Author Eric Metaxas, who has studied this history extensively, describes Sanger’s documented plans as “too horrifying to believe,” particularly regarding her views on racial eugenics and population control.
As someone who has covered American social movements for more than half a century, I’m reminded that understanding our history – even its darkest chapters – is crucial to making informed decisions about our future. This documentary serves as both a historical record and a warning about how radical ideologies can shape institutions that touch millions of lives.
The film arrives at a time when abortion remains one of America’s most divisive issues, with both sides seeking to better understand the roots of this ongoing national debate. And that’s just the way it is.
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