Drapetomania: the Scientific Justification of Slavery and Abuse of Enslaved Africans in America

Drapetomania was a pseudoscientific theory that was used in the mid-19th century to explain why enslaved African Americans would attempt to escape slavery in the United States.

The Drapetomanian theory, which was developed by Samuel Cartwright, a physician and slave owner, argued that this desire was a result of a mental illness caused by a lack of proper discipline and oversight. The theory was widely criticized and rejected by the medical community as unscientific and baseless, and it is now understood that the desire to escape slavery was a natural and understandable response to a deeply oppressive and inhumane system. Drapetomania was also deeply racist and offensive, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about African Americans and serving as a justification for the brutal treatment of enslaved individuals.

The Theory of Drapetomania

According to Cartwright, drapetomania or “the runaway slave disease,” was a mental illness that caused enslaved individuals to have an irrational desire to flee from slavery. He argued that this illness was caused by a lack of proper discipline and oversight on the part of slave owners, and that it could be cured through punishment and strict control.

However, the theory of drapetomania was not based on any scientific evidence or understanding of mental illness, and it has been widely criticized and rejected by the medical community. Instead, it was used as a justification for the harsh treatment and punishment of enslaved individuals who attempted to escape slavery. Like the Curse of Ham, drapetomania was part of a larger effort to legitimize and defend the institution of slavery in the United States, and it was used to argue that enslaved individuals were biologically or mentally inferior, and that they were incapable of self-determination or independence.

Despite its lack of scientific basis, the theory of drapetomania was widely circulated and promoted in the South as a way to defend and justify slavery. It was used to argue that enslaved individuals were happy and content with their condition, and that any attempts to escape were a result of their own mental illness rather than a response to the deeply oppressive and inhumane nature of slavery. The theory of drapetomania has since been completely rejected as unscientific and baseless, and it is now understood that the desire to escape slavery was a natural and understandable response to a deeply oppressive and inhumane system

The Use of Drapetomania to Justify Slavery

Drapetomania was used as a justification for slavery by slave owners and their allies in the mid-19th century, at a time when the abolitionist movement was gaining momentum. The theory argued that enslaved individuals who attempted to escape slavery were suffering from a mental illness caused by a lack of proper discipline and oversight, and that this illness could be cured through punishment and strict control. As such, drapetomania was used to argue that slavery was necessary and justified, and that enslaved individuals were happy and satisfied with the status imposed upon them.

In addition to being used as a justification for slavery, the theory of drapetomania also served as a justification for the brutal treatment of enslaved individuals. As such, it provided a rationale for the harsh punishment and control of enslaved individuals who attempted to flee.

Criticism and Rejection of Drapetomania

One of the main criticisms of drapetomania was that it was not grounded in any scientific understanding of mental illness. The theory argued that the desire to escape slavery was a result of a mental illness caused by a lack of proper discipline and oversight, but it provided no evidence or explanation for this claim. It was not supported by any research or empirical data, and it was not recognized as a legitimate mental disorder by the medical community.

In addition to its lack of scientific basis, drapetomania was also widely criticized for being deeply racist and offensive. It perpetuated harmful stereotypes about African Americans and suggested that they were biologically or mentally inferior to white people. It also served as a justification for the brutal treatment of enslaved individuals, and helped to maintain the system of slavery in the United States for many years.

Another major criticism of drapetomania was that it failed to recognize the deeply oppressive and inhumane nature of slavery. It suggested that the desire to escape slavery was a result of a mental illness, rather than a natural and understandable response to a deeply oppressive and cruel industry. This view ignored the realities of the experience of enslaved individuals and denied their dignity as humans.

The Racist Nature of Drapetomania

One of the main ways in which drapetomania was racist was that it argued that the desire to escape slavery was a result of a mental illness caused by a lack of proper discipline and oversight. This view suggested that enslaved individuals (blacks) were incapable of self-determination or independence, and that they needed to be controlled and punished in order to remain in bondage. It also suggested that they were biologically or mentally inferior to white people, and that they were incapable of understanding or resisting the oppressive nature of slavery.

In addition to being racist, drapetomania was also deeply offensive. It generated unsavoury stereotypes about African Americans.  These stereotypes have had lasting and damaging effects, and they continue to shape perceptions and attitudes towards African Americans today.

Today, the concept of drapetomania is widely recognized as a pseudoscientific and racist theory that has no place in modern medicine or society. It serves as a reminder of the ways in which science has been used to justify and reinforce oppressive systems and ideas, and the importance of critically evaluating and challenging such claims.