Human Zoo 

I remember the first time when I heard the word human zoo I was shocked, confused and terrified. I came across the term randomly and I thought to myself what on the earth is a human zoo? When I searched the term human zoo I could not believe myself at what I read. I had mixed feelings of anger and sadness. At that time I condemned it. Today I feel the need to write about it. I often wonder despite the world has progressed so much, why do we still face racism, discrimination and disrespect? It is a complicated question and in this blog I would like to focus on human zoo however when we read the history of human zoo which is not just a history it still exists in different forms today; we can understand questions such as where did racism come from and why does it still exist today? As much as it was painful to write this blog I do feel it is important to write about such topics. If we would like to have a better future for ourselves and generations after us, we must learn from our past and acknowledge what is happening in our present to make tomorrow better. 

Humans zoo were zoo but instead of animals human beings from different races and ethnicities were displayed. Sometime humans were displayed with an animal in the same cage. This happened during the 19th and 20th century to show the western cultural superiority over what was called inferior cultures. Prior to the cinemas, freak shows were popular and attracted a large number of audience. The display of humans later became part of the freak shows. 

There was a man by the name of Hippolythus Medci who was son of Gialians Medci di Lorenzo de' Medci who was the ruler of Florence, Italy. Hippolyhtus was born out of wedlock to his father's mistress. Hippolythus had collection of people from different cultures and races who spoke different languages. He called these people savages.

The humans' zoo took place throughout the Europe, United States and Canada in different big cities such as Paris, London, Milan, New York and Chicago. Carl Hagenback was a German merchant. He put people and animals in the same cage along with some plants. He claimed he re-created the natural environment. Hagenback's zoo were extremely popular. This promoted both racism and imperialism. 

In Paris colonial exposition villages were created. These villages had performers- people to display. These people performed non-stop for their audience. Needless to say they died because of terrible living conditions and diseases. 

Some of the most popular shows were held in St. Louis which were called the world's fair. They were known as the international exhibition. 

The Igrot Village:

 Igrot is in Luzon, Philippines. The Igrot village was created in St. Louis. People which were kept there to display were given little clothes to wear. They were fed dogs for days to perform for the audience. It was one of the most successful shows. 

Dionne Quintuplets:

 Dionne Quintuplets were the five girls born in Ontario, Canada. They were born two months premature. They were taken away from their parents and a contract was given to Red Cross to take their custody. The Quintuplets were kept in a hospital and the Ontario Provincial Government made the hospital into a human zoo where the sisters were displayed to the rest of the world. 

Giolo Jeoly who was a slave in Mindanao. He and his respected mother were bought by William Dampier. His mother died at the sea and Jeloy was brought to London to display. He also died later from smallpox. 

Saartijie Baarthman belonged to Khosian family-an Indigenous group from South Africa. She was exhibited in London.

Ota Benga was a young man from Africa. He was called a savage and displayed along with monkeys. 

What shocks me even more is that it is not the practice of the past. The concept of the human zoo still exists today in different forms. In 2012, in the Andaman Island tourists went to not just see the animals but also humans-the indigenousness people who live there. In one of the videos a tribal woman was told to perform when the tourists give her food. 

There are many other examples. To mention a few, Ivory Coast Village was displayed as part of African safari. Congolese Village was also displayed as part of African safari. In 2005, Germany hosted an African Village which showed African culture performances. Critics argued that presenting African culture in such context contributes to human zoo and racial discrimination. In 2005, the London zoo also displayed four human volunteers and asked them to wear fig leaves for four days.