Intensely Human

More about the book

The book delves into the high mortality rates of Black soldiers during the American Civil War, primarily due to disease, malnourishment, and poor medical care. Historian Margaret Humphreys reveals how contemporary physicians often misinterpreted these deaths as evidence of innate racial inferiority, despite some recognizing the true causes. Through archival research, she highlights the systemic neglect faced by Black soldiers and how prevailing stereotypes about race persisted in medical discourse, overshadowing the realities of their experiences.