Eugenic beliefs had serious implications for Latinos in California, especially working-class Mexican-origin women and men, who were a growing population in the state in the first half of the 20th century.
The Circus explores the colorful history of this popular, influential and distinctly American form of entertainment, from the first one-ring show at the end of the 18th century to 1956, when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey big top was pulled down for the last time.
With every new advance in prenatal genetic screening, the ability to prevent suffering has also sparked difficult questions. These fears arise, in part, because just 100 years ago, that’s exactly what the eugenics movement tried to do.
