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Thinking abt how this country was built with Black ppl’s uncompensated & forced labor and how a White physician during slavery actually constructed a mental illness called “dysaesthesia aethiopica” which he said made Black ppl lazy in their work. Can’t make this up. #LaborDay
He also created a diagnosis called drapetomania to “explain” why Black people tried to flee slavery and which was to be “treated” in part by the amputation of the enslaved person’s two big toes. https://www.watchtheyard.com/history/drapetomania-dysaesthesia-aethiopica/
Back to “dysaesthesia aethiopica”, Dr. Cartwright “said that a sign of this illness was a partial insensitivity of the skin” and important to note that many White people - medical trainees included - believe that Black people have thicker skin and this higher pain threshold.
*still believe
Having these false beliefs are associated with rating Blk ppl’s pain as lower and giving inappropriate pain treatment recommendations for Black patients.
Having these false beliefs are associated with rating Blk ppl’s pain as lower and giving inappropriate pain treatment recommendations for Black patients.
More about drapetomania and hebetude (laziness) are covered in Harriet Washington’s must-read “Medical Apartheid”.
