History, as traditionally taught, often presents an incomplete picture, omitting or downplaying deeply disturbing events. This selective presentation isn't accidental, but a result of uncomfortable truths about power dynamics and systemic injustices.

Medical Exploitation of Enslaved Women

Dr. J. Marion Sims, often called the ‘father of modern gynecology,’ developed his surgical skills through repeated, unanesthetized operations on enslaved Black women. Specifically, Anarcha Westcott, Betsey, and Lucy endured these procedures between 1845 and 1849 in Montgomery, Alabama.

Anarcha Westcott underwent thirty surgeries over five years without effective pain relief. Dr. Sims justified this by claiming the procedures weren’t painful enough to warrant anesthesia. The tools and techniques Sims developed are still used today, yet his legacy remains controversial due to the ethical violations involved.

The Shifting Definition of Race

The classification of Middle Eastern Americans as ‘white’ within the US Census system is a historically constructed legal category. A 1909 case involving Lebanese-Christian police officer George Shishim played a key role in this designation.

A Case for Citizenship

Shishim argued that classifying him as ‘Mongolian’ would imply Jesus Christ was of the same origin, challenging the existing racial hierarchy. The judge ruled in Shishim’s favor, recognizing him as white to avoid questioning the whiteness of Jesus. This was part of a larger trend of ‘racial prerequisite cases’ where immigrants had to prove their whiteness to gain citizenship.

The Supreme Court often prioritized exclusion, using whatever criteria—scientific or popular—would deny citizenship. This ultimately led to the official classification of people from the Middle East and North Africa as ‘white’ in 1977, a designation that lasted until 2024. Despite this classification, MENA Americans often experience discrimination and racial profiling.

Exploitation of Labor: Bracero Program & Operation Wetback

The Bracero Program during World War II, designed to address labor shortages by recruiting Mexican agricultural workers, was plagued by abuse. Workers faced degrading treatment, including public strip-searches, fumigation with DDT, grueling workdays, and unsanitary living conditions.

A US Department of Labor official openly described the program as ‘legalized slavery.’ Over 4.6 million contracts were issued, with the government withholding 10% of workers’ wages, often never returning the funds.

A Brutal Deportation Campaign

Simultaneously, the Eisenhower administration launched ‘Operation Wetback’ in 1954, led by Harlon B. Carter, a convicted murderer. This operation resulted in the mass deportation of US citizens and legal residents without due process, demonstrating a disregard for human rights.

These historical facts reveal a pattern of systemic injustice and exploitation that continues to influence contemporary society, highlighting the importance of confronting these uncomfortable truths to build a more equitable future.