Commentary: Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington
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TW: Racism and violence.
I was fortunate enough to read Harriet A. Washington's Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present with a friend. Each chapter-- I'd argue, even, each page-- contains numerous layers of information, requiring a gestation period that is longer and more intense than I believe most of us are used to with other books. Every chapter unravels the history behind a specific medical experience that Black folks encounter across America. Within that chapter, Washington divulges the historical context for the experience, case studies revealing the many manifestations of that experience both historically and in the present day, and, interwoven throughout, we learn about mythologies and collective memories surrounding that experience-- White mythologies, which are normally woven to cover up or ignore the truth and then Black collective memories, composed over centuries, through word of mouth, personal experience, and research by Black journalists and medical professionals. To grapple with those layers-- understanding context, how it all interacts and ties together, and what it means for the present-- is rigorous work, requiring time and attention and, frankly, a certain level of devotion.
This goliath of a book contains research, oral histories, collective memories, history, and legislation regarding medical exploitation on plantations, medical experimentation on enslaved Africans and freedmen, antebellum clinics, anatomical dissection and public display, the Tuskegee experiments, eugenics, radiation experiments, research on Black prisoners, research on Black children, genetics, the imposed criminality of illness, surgical technology, and bioterrorism. I could go on and on about all that I learned from this text, but I'll put it simply: This book reveals many of the origins and contexts surrounding racist stereotypes and ideologies that we see today.
Some of you might be reading this and, based on the information I've shared, may feel that this book can't possibly fit into your reading list. It's dense, long, and hard to read in almost every way. It's emotional to read but, at the same time, very technical and requires careful attention to detail. It's disgusting at times and made me want to throw my copy across the room in anger.
All of this to say that, yes, I understand that this book is hard and for many people may seem like an impossible task.
I have a few tips on how to read this book to get the best experience:
1) Read with a buddy or with a group. This will help you stay on schedule, keep up the pace, and have folks to talk with about what you're reading. Be mindful; however, when you sit down to decide the reading schedule. Give yourself more time than you think you'll need. I'd recommend at least a month, if not longer. This leads into the next piece of advice.
2) Don't rush the reading experience. Take your time. It's vitally important that you retain what you're reading so that, in the future, you can talk with others about the history and present of medical racism with confidence. Again, a month or longer may be needed to fully digest this book.
3) If you have experiences with medical racism or medical abuse yourself, please take care of yourself entering into this book. Because I am White and I have no clue what it feels like to survive medical racism, I don't know what taking care of yourself means for you. All I can recommend is to be aware of the fact that this book contains a lot of violence and could be incredibly triggering.
4) Don't read too much in one sitting. Try to pace out your reading schedule with tiny chunks each day. A chapter a day. If you try to read too much at once, not only is it harder to retain, but it will have an impact on your emotions and mental wellbeing. We can't hide from the truth or ignore the reality of medical racism. But we also can't swallow the full story in one gulp. It's healthier all in all to manage the information into digestible pieces so that you can take what you learn and pursue change.
I'm sure there are plenty of you walking away from this post with thoughts like, "Well, that doesn't sound fun to read." or "This doesn't sound appealing." And you'd be right. This topic isn't appealing or fun. It's disgusting, enraging, and heartbreaking. But that's all the more reason we have to read books like this one. To change things, to make medicine safe for everyone, and to create health care structures that honor all of us and treat us with love and respect, we must understand the past and the present in their full contexts. Change doesn't come from a vacuum. It comes from making a commitment to discomfort-- to the truth.
I hope all of you find a copy of this book and make it a priority in 2020 to educate yourself on medical racism and, hopefully, take steps to pursue change.