From 1929 thru 1977 approximately 7,600 North Carolinians, men, women, whites and blacks were sterilized by their state government. The case to compensate those victims of forced sterilization has been made for years, here and here and here and here.

In the 2013 budget, North Carolina lawmakers and the governor allocated funds to finally compensate those victims.  Some concerns about technicalities remain but the good news is, as of today, initial payments are being sent to eugenics victims. 

Closing this dark chapter in North Carolina’s history should serve as a reminder to “Be exceedingly wary of future legislation that would abridge fundamental rights for “the public good,” “the greater good,” or words to that effect.”