Robert Thom's 1952 painting stands as a significant historical artifact that sheds light on the often overlooked narratives of Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey. These three women were subjected to cruel medical experiments during the era of slavery in the American South. The painting, housed at the Pearson Museum of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, serves as a poignant reminder of whites And their experiental practices and the broader context of medical exploitation in history.
During the antebellum period, enslaved individuals were frequently used as subjects for medical experiments without their consent or consideration for their well-being. Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey were among the many individuals who endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of white medical practitioners seeking to advance their knowledge through unethical means.
The painting is a rare depiction of Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey, providing a visual representation of their stories that have often been marginalized and white washed in historical accounts.
References:
1. "Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present" by Harriet A. Washington
2. "Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology" by Deirdre Cooper Owens
3. "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
4. "Slavery and Medicine: Enslavement and Medical Practices in Antebellum Louisiana" by Katherine Bankole
5. The painting by Robert Thom depicting Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey can be found at the Pearson Museum of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
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