forced sterilization

‘The Relf Sisters Never Consented’: Landmark Case Unmasked U.S. Government’s Role in Coerced Sterilization of Black Girls

Apr 15, 2025

In 1973, in the heart of Montgomery, Alabama, two young Black sisters—Mary Alice and Minnie Relf—were subjected to an irreversible medical procedure they never consented to. At just 14 and 12 years old, the girls were forcibly sterilized by a federally funded clinic. Their mother, who could neither read nor write, had unknowingly signed a…
Buck v. Bell (1927): A Dark Chapter in U.S. Legal History

Nov 8, 2024

In 1927, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision in Buck v. Bell that has since remained one of the most controversial in American legal history. The case centered around Carrie Buck, a young woman from Virginia who was forcibly sterilized after being diagnosed with “feeblemindedness.” The Case of Carrie Buck Carrie Buck’s story…
The Most Infamous Supreme Court Decisions Throughout History

Feb 21, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court is often hailed as the pinnacle of justice, but even its esteemed justices are not immune to errors. While many of their decisions are lauded for promoting equality and protecting individual rights, others have left a stain on the annals of legal history. From upholding racial segregation to restricting civil rights,…

‘The Relf Sisters Never Consented’: Landmark Case Unmasked U.S. Government’s Role in Coerced Sterilization of Black Girls