Drapetomania: A Pseudoscience Used to Justify Slavery
In the mid-19th century, Samuel A. Cartwright, a physician in the United States, coined the term drapetomania to describe what he claimed was a mental disorder causing enslaved African Americans to flee captivity. Published in a medical journal in 1851, Cartwright’s theory reflects how pseudoscience was used to justify slavery, reinforcing dehumanizing narratives about African Americans. Though it was never widely accepted as legitimate medicine, drapetomania exemplifies the lengths to which some pro-slavery advocates went to rationalize and maintain the institution of slavery.
Origins of Drapetomania
Cartwright first introduced drapetomania in an article titled "Diseases and Peculiarities of the Negro Race." He argued that enslaved Africans were naturally submissive and ordained by God to serve their masters. According to Cartwright, their inclination to flee captivity was a pathological condition, rather than a rational response to oppression. He even proposed a “cure”: treating enslaved people with kindness, provided they remained obedient, and resorting to physical punishment if they showed signs of resistance.
Drapetomania was not based on scientific evidence but was instead a product of racial bias and the social structures of the time. Cartwright’s ideas mirrored the paternalistic view held by many white Southerners, who justified slavery as a benevolent institution. By framing escape attempts as a mental illness, Cartwright pathologized the desire for freedom and dismissed the humanity and agency of enslaved people.
Reception and Acceptance
Although drapetomania was not universally accepted in the medical community, it gained some traction in pro-slavery circles in the South. Cartwright’s theories were disseminated in regional publications and aligned with the cultural and political climate that sought to uphold slavery. However, drapetomania was ridiculed by many abolitionists and dismissed by most medical professionals outside the South, particularly in the North and in Europe, where slavery was increasingly seen as morally and scientifically indefensible.
Even within the South, Cartwright’s ideas were likely seen more as propaganda than serious medical diagnosis. Drapetomania served as a convenient rhetorical tool rather than a widely believed medical condition. By portraying enslaved people as mentally unwell for desiring freedom, it deflected attention from the inherent cruelty of slavery and reinforced racist stereotypes.
Why Drapetomania Was Accepted in Some Circles
The acceptance of drapetomania, even in limited contexts, can be attributed to the broader social and political framework of the time. Slavery was deeply entrenched in the Southern economy and culture, and many sought to defend it through any means necessary, including pseudoscience. The 19th century saw the rise of scientific racism, where biased “scientific” studies were used to assert the inferiority of non-white races. Drapetomania was one of many such theories designed to legitimize white supremacy and control.
Legacy
Today, drapetomania is universally discredited and recognized as a glaring example of how science can be manipulated to serve oppressive ideologies. It underscores the importance of scrutinizing scientific claims, particularly when they intersect with systems of power and prejudice. Reflecting on the history of drapetomania reminds us of the dangers of dehumanization and the enduring impact of systemic racism.