Medical Apartheid

The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present

By: Harriet A. Washington

Narrated by: Ron Butler

Medical Apartheid is the first and only comprehensive history of medical experimentation on African Americans. Starting with the earliest encounters between black Americans and Western medical researchers and the racist pseudoscience that resulted, it details the ways both slaves and freedmen were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without their knowledge - a tradition that continues today within some black populations. It reveals how blacks have historically been prey to grave robbing as well as unauthorized autopsies and dissections. Moving into the 20th century, it shows how the pseudoscience of eugenics and social Darwinism were used to justify experimental exploitation and shoddy medical treatment of blacks.

The product of years of prodigious research into medical journals and experimental reports long undisturbed, Medical Apartheid reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and makes possible, for the first time, an understanding of the roots of the African American health deficit.

©2006 Harriet A. Washington (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[C]ompulsively readable." ( Publishers Weekly)

Needs be required for medical professionals

This should be required reading for *all* medical, pharmaceutical, and related research professionals in the US.

Several times I had to put the book down and breathe, because the history of abuse exerted on black Americans is just... no words.

And it continues to this day.

Not only that, but I was hoping—consciously hoping—there would be no mention of kids or babies. No such luck, to my great despair.

Must Read

This book is an absolute, “Must Read” for every single Individual, especially those who think everyone in the world is treated fairly. And for those who say, “I don’t see color”, this read will help them to open their eyes. What sad stories of women as medical experimental objectS. And children.... my goodness, the children. This book is REAL.

Required reading

This book brought me to tears, rage, and disbelief in opening my eyes to the abuses of the most trusted profession. I feel informed and motivated by this brilliant piece ending with a strong clear call to action. A very important read that should be mandatory for all doctors, historians, and scientists.

Must Read

A sad truth everyone should know about. This is why they kneel. If you're white, be brave and read this book.

Medical Book club

This is a great book for professionals working in medical research . People at my company in division of medical affairs read for book club. Harriet Washington did a tremendous job walking us through the history of medical trauma that has happened to black people . The experimentation, grave robbing and all of the inhumane things that were done to mostly black people. It’s not Tuskegee that has caused distrustfulness!

Simply powerful

I recommend getting the actual book AND listening to this audible after reading the book. It really helps cement the information in your brain! This information will shock you、make you feel dispair、and anger you. This is all needed to get the conversation going. I'd rather be pissed off and aware than happy and ignorant!

Essential read if you want to know about America

This is a very hard read/listen, but it is essential for every American to read if you want to understand American history

Sobering... but necessary.

When I listened to this book, I immediately had a better understanding of my father's hesitancy to go to the doctor during his last 20 years of life. Chock full of FACTS from medical and government records and reports, as well as interviews with survivors, this book hits you in the face with deliberate atrocious acts against people of color by those sworn to "First do no harm"... and covered up by those sworn to protect and serve. It exposes greed by the many, action by very few, inaction by many in the justice system, and malice by many in the legislative system. It is an EXCELLENT read. Very sad and very sobering, but speaks volumes to what can happen when a human being does not value the life of another.

profound

This book is full of information that is surprising, horrific, amazing, shocking, and educational.No wonder the meek will inherit the earth., they deserve it.

With a heavy heat , open mind and listening ear

This book is not for the faint of hear or the active person not willing to see it through to the end. Listening to this book has made me realize recognize and remember what the enslaved African American and current African Americans in this country has provided for me as an individual and my family. Allowing me to see the what the world would brush over as we have an answer and no one cares about how we got it. Thank you is the only thing I can say to the person who recommended it to me and yes to the person who wrote it .