The greats we learn about. Often men. Many of us have heard and read the stories of the "Fathers" of modern medicine.
But let's know and share and never forget the story of these women, Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey. We might call them the "mothers" of medicine, of modern gynecology. Alas, these enslaved women whose bodies were used for physician's research. Without anesthesia. Consent unknown.
Take a moment to listen to this moving podcast at NPR's Hidden Brain with historian and physician Vanessa Northington Gamble, and artist and author Bettina Judd, telling these stories that need to be told.
#blacklivesmatter
Not enslaved, but also don't forget Henrietta lacks!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, many many more women. Each with HER own story.
ReplyDeletePowerful. I also noticed a lot of comments on NPS of folks who still.don't.get.it
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSo powerful.
DeleteOn NPR, somewhat surprising re comments.
And all the more reason to help make these women's stories known, even better if in their own voices.
We must do more than not know, more than not forget... we must do better.