Evolution and Racism - The Case of Ota Benga
In 1906 the crowds thronged the monkey house exhibit at the Bronx Zoo (New York Zoological Park). Here were man's "evolutionary ancestors" - monkeys chimpanzees, a gorilla named Dinah, an orangutan named Dohung and an African pygmy tribesman named Ota Benga.
Ota Benga was brought from the Belgian Congo in 1904 by a noted African explorer Samuel Verner with other pygmies and displayed in an exhibit in the 1904 St. Louis world's Fair. Ota Benga (or "Bi" which means "friend" in his language) was born in 1881 , had a height of 4 ft. 11in. and weighted 103 lbs. Although he was referred to as a boy he had been married twice. His first wife had been captured by a hostile tribe and his second wife died by a snakebite.
After the St. Louis exhibit, Ota found himself at the Bronx zoo which at that time was under the direction of Dr. William T. Hornaday, who was considered a bit eccentric. Hornaday believed animals had nearly human thoughts and personalities, and he could read the thoughts of zoo animals. He apparently saw no difference between wild beasts and the little Black man and insisted he was only offering an "intriguing exhibit"
The exhibit was immensely popular and controversial; the black community was outraged and some white churchmen feared that would convince people of Darwin's theory of evolution. Under threat of legal action, Hornaday had Ota Benga leave his cage and circulate around the zoo in a white suit, but returning to the monkey house to sleep.
In time Ota Benga began to hate being mobbed by the curious and nasty children and problems arose. At one point, he got hold of a knife and flourished it around the park. He also produced a fracas after being denied a soda from the soda fountain near the Bird House. Finally, after fabricating a small bow and arrows and shooting at park visitors he had to leave the park for good.
After his park experience, several institutions tried to help him. He was placed in Virginia Theological Seminary and College but quit school to work in a tobacco factory. According to Hornaday who probably was had evolutionary racist views said "he did not possess the power of learning" [Creation ex nihilo, Vol 16, No1 Dec. 1993-Feb 1994, pg. 50].
Growing homesick, hostile and despondent Ota Benga borrowed a revolver, shoot himself in the heart, ending his life in 1916.
References:
[Creation ex nihilo, Vol 16, No1 Dec. 1993-Feb 1994, pgs. 48 50]
[Milner 1990, 41-42]
suit, but returning to the monkey house to sleep?
Photo Credits:
http://wirednhttp://www.amazon.com
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2008/12/02/the-tragic-tale-of-the-pygmy-in-the-zoo/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ota_Benga