Intensely Human

Description:

Black soldiers in the American Civil War were far more likely to die of disease than were white soldiers. Historian Margaret Humphreys explores why this uneven mortality occurred and how it was interpreted at the time. In doing so, she uncovers the perspectives of mid-nineteenth-century physicians and others who were eager to implicate the so-called innate inferiority of the black body. In the archival collections of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, Humphreys found evidence that the high death rate among black soldiers resulted from malnourishment, inadequate shelter and clothing, inferior medical attention, and assignments to hazardous environments. While some observant physicians of the day attributed the black soldiers' high mortality rate to these circumstances, few medical professionals--on either side of the conflict--were prepared to challenge the "biological evidence" of white superiority. Humphreys shows how, despite sympathetic and responsible physicians' efforts to expose the truth, the stereotype of black biological inferiority prevailed during the war and after.

subjects: United States Civil War, 1861-1865,  Health and hygiene,  African American Participation,  Social aspects of the Human body,  Social aspects,  Mortality,  Race relations,  Racism,  United States,  Masculinity,  Health aspects,  Human Body,  African American soldiers,  History,  Militärmedizin,  Sezessionskrieg,  African American,  American Civil War,  American Civil War (1861-1865) fast (OCoLC)fst01351658,  Infektionskrankheit,  Schwarze,  Military participation,  History, 19th Century,  Military Personnel,  Prejudice,  Soldat,  African Americans,  United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, participation, african american,  United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, health aspects,  Human body, social aspects,  United states, race relations,  United states, history, 19th century

People: Ira Russell (1815-1888)

Places: United States

Times: 19th century,  Civil War, 1861-1865