Meet the Authors of Good Blood, Bad Blood: Science, Nature, and the Myth of the Kallikaks, a book described by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Simon as "Extensively researched, powerfully written, and supremely readable, this book shines a light on eugenics, one of the most influential and shameful movements of the first half of the 20th century."

Invented by psychologist Henry Herbert Goddard in 1912, the name Kallikak is derived from the Greek words kallos (good) and kakos (bad). Goddard believed that nature and heredity are unalterable forces leading to feeble-mindedness and degeneracy, which he illustrated using case studies of a woman named "Deborah Kallikak," an inmate at his institution, then named The New Jersey Home for the Education and Care of Feebleminded Children.

Incredibly, as revealed in detail for the first time in Good Blood, Bad Blood, Goddard had it all wrong. Using new source material, Good Blood, Bad Blood retells the story of Deborah in its entirety. This is a compelling story that is vital to understanding both this specific American tragedy and the history of efforts to manipulate the human population.

Join us on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 to meet co-authors J. David Smith (B.S. '67/H&S; M.S. '73/AHP) and Michael L. Wehmeyer. A light reception will start at 4:15 p.m. followed by a presentation, reading, and book signing in the VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salon III. This event is free and open to the public.

Copies of the book can be preordered by November 16 or purchased at the event. For more information or to preorder, please contact Colleen Thoma, Professor of Special Education and Disability Policy at the VCU School of Education, at cathoma@vcu.edu or (804) 827-2651.

This event is co-sponsored by VCU Division for Diversity and Equity, VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities, and Richmond Teachers for Social Justice.