Describe the conditions of Negritude, Drapetomania, and Dysethesia Aethiopica
How were these conditions treated?
Why are oral histories important in the exploration of mental health experiences?
What have you learned/experienced because of this project?
Drapetomania was a medical condition characterized by ‘an irresistible urge for slaves’ to runaway from their owners due to unhappiness with their conditions (Stromberg 2017). The term was coined by Samuel Cartwright, a physician, who claimed that it could be cured through strict discipline. Following this logic, any form of resistance from enslaved persons was attributed purely to mental illness thus absolving slaveholders from any responsibility for how they treated their captives(Stromberg 2017).
Lastly, Dysethesia Aethiopica or idiopathic dysesthesia was another medical diagnosis applied mainly towards African Americans claiming that it resulted from melancholia caused by slavery and thus causing sufferers severe depression and fatigue (Anderson 2016). Similarly, treatment involved disciplinary measures designed more punish than heal despite lacking evidence regarding its causes or proper cures (Anderson 2016).
In all three cases, the common thread linking them is the use of oppressive pseudoscientific theories constructed within white male dominated academic circles which denied the agency of those affected while presenting themselves as objective truth when in reality they represented little more than irrational biases perpetrated against people deemed inferior due to their race (Davis 2006). These ideas legitimized practices like forced labor without physical proof since victims were unable speak out against these treatments, making it easier for oppressors to justify actions taken against them. As such, we can conclude that these conditions presented ideal scapegoats upon which perpetrators could blame victimization rather than take responsibility for their own wrongdoings.
Negritude: Negritude is a term used to describe the shared cultural identity of people of African descent and related diasporic communities. It has been used to express the pride, strength, and resilience of black people around the world in terms of literature, art, music, politics, and philosophy.
Drapetomania: Drapetomania was viewed as a mental disorder in which enslaved African Americans would have an “irresistible impulse” to escape slavery. This diagnosis was made by Samuel A. Cartwright in 1851 and was one way that slaveholders were able to justify punishing their enslaved workers for attempting to gain freedom or disobey orders.
In 1999, a case is Michigan sentenced Jack Kevorkian, MD, of homicide. He was the essential consideration doctor for Thomas Youk. Youk was a patient of Jack Kevorkian in 1998. Michigan investigators contended that the doctor controlled a deadly portion of an obscure medication after the patient enthusiastically marked a report expressing that is what he believed the doctor should do. After the patient’s passing, Kevorkian was accused of doctor helped self destruction, and first degree murder. Kevorkian’s lawyers contended that the doctor was simply attempting to facilitate the aggravation of the patient. This made the appointed authority decide for the doctor. The doctor helped self destruction charge was dropped. In any case, the first-degree murder accusation remained something similar. The appointed authority condemned the doctor to ten to a quarter century in jail. On June 1, 2007, Jack Kevorkian was delivered released early serving eight years in jail. (Berghmans)
Up until the year 2008, Oregon was the main express that had sanctioned doctor helped self destruction. On November fourth, 2008, Washington state turned into the second state to pass a demise with pride act. The demonstration legitimized doctor helped self destruction.
In 2009, the province of Montana passed a regulation that legitimized doctor helped self destruction. The law made it legitimate for occupants of Montana to doctor helped self destruction. The law expresses that doctor helped self destruction isn’t against public approach. The law shields specialists from arraignment for assisting in critical condition patients with dieing. In any case, the court declined to settle on the off chance that the right is ensured under Montana’s Constitution. (ProCon.org)
On May 20, 2013, Vermont’s lead representative Peter Shumlin endorsed for the “Finish of Life Decisions” bill into regulation. This was significant in light of the fact that this was the first time in Quite a while history that doctor helped self destruction has been made legitimate utilizing the regulative cycle. (ProCon.org)
“On Blemish. 2, 2014, Belgium turned into the world’s most memorable country to lift all age limitations on willful extermination. Lord Philippe of Belgium marked regulation that permits youngsters with terminal and hopeless diseases to decide to be euthanized. The kid should be “close to death, in ‘steady and excruciating physical’ torment with no accessible treatment.” The youngster should likewise have “limit of wisdom and be cognizant right now of the solicitation.” The solicitation must be made recorded as a hard copy, affirmed and settled upon by the treating doctor, affirmed by a second assessment from an external specialist, and afterward the kid should go through mental testing to affirm that the kid comprehends the solicitation completely and that test must be ensured recorded as a hard copy by the therapist. The treating doctor is then expected to meet with the youngster’s folks or legitimate agent to acquire their assent recorded as a hard copy. The Netherlands has comparative regulation however denies killing for youngsters under 12 years old.” (ProCon.org) This is significant in light of the fact that it lifts the age prerequisites of doctor helped self destruction. On the off chance that anybody ought not be ready to end it all, I accept that it ought to be kids.