Page 51 - The Disasters Darwinism Brought To Humanity

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D D A R W I N ' S R A C I S M A N D C O L O N I A L I S M 51
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is because he is most comfortable there, and because we are at a loss to know
what else to do with him. He is in no sense a prisoner, except that no one
would say it was wise to allow him to wander around the city without some
one having an eye on him." 39
Ota Benga's being exhibited in the zoo with gorillas like an animal
led to unease in various circles. A number of foundations applied to the
authorities to have the practice stopped, stating that Ota Benga was a
human being and that his being treated in that way was a great cruelty.
One of these applications appeared in the New York Globe of 12 September
1906 in this way:
Editor of the Globe:
Sir - I lived in the south several years, and consequently am not overfond of
negro, but believe him human. I think it a shame that the authorities of this
great city should allow such a sight as that witnessed at the Bronx Park - a
negro boy, on exhibition in a monkey cage...
This whole pygmy business needs investigation...
A.E.R.
New York, Sept. 12 40
Another application asking Ota Benga to be treated like a human
was as follows:
Man and Monkey Show Disapproved by Clergy
The Rev. Dr. MacArthur Thinks the Exhibition Degrading
"The person responsible for this exhibition degrades himself as much as he
does the African" said Dr. MacArthur "Instead of making a beast of this lit-
tle fellow, he should be put in school for the development of such powers as
God gave to him."

Dr. Gilbert said he had already decided that the exhibition was an outrage
and that he and other pastors would join with Dr. MacArthur in seeing to it
that the Bushman was released from the monkey cage and put elsewhere. 41

The end result of all this inhuman treatment was Ota Benga's suicide.
But here the problem was greater than that of one human being losing his
life. This event was a clear example of the cruelty and savagery that Dar-
winist racism could mean in practice.