Planned Parenthood History: Debunking Claims of Racial Bias Against Margaret Sanger

The claim that Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, was motivated by a desire to control the Black population is a widely repeated conspiracy theory thoroughly debunked by historians and scholars. Sanger was a birth control advocate who believed in the right of all women to control their fertility, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. No credible evidence supports the allegation that she opposed Black people or founded Planned Parenthood to reduce their population.

Key Facts About Margaret Sanger

• Born in 1879 in Corning, New York; youngest of 11 children, grew up in poverty.
• Witnessed the devastating effects of unplanned pregnancies on women and families; became a nurse and advocated for birth control access.
• Opened the first U.S. birth control clinic in 1916 in Brooklyn, New York (shut down by police, but she continued campaigning).
• Founded the American Birth Control League in 1921, which later became Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
• Prolific writer and speaker on birth control; authored books, articles, and lectured worldwide on family planning.
• Died in 1966; regarded as a pivotal figure in reproductive rights history.

Sanger worked to ensure Planned Parenthood's services were available to all women, irrespective of race or income. Planned Parenthood has long supported reproductive rights for all people, including Black women.