Ben Waber reviewed Bad Medicine by Sarah A. Whitt
A Shocking, Devastating History
5 stars
Whitt does a service by diving into the sordid, surprisingly recent history of the institutionalization of American Indians, bringing together archival government documents and written accounts to present a shocking and largely unacknowledged stain on US history. As one might expect boarding schools are centered here, but their position within the prison pipeline and their usage to illegally institutionalize adults is also covered. The topic of labor as a "cure" for Native American ailments, and the participation of many major corporations in this scheme, is also examined here. This is an extremely tough but important read. Highly recommend
Whitt does a service by diving into the sordid, surprisingly recent history of the institutionalization of American Indians, bringing together archival government documents and written accounts to present a shocking and largely unacknowledged stain on US history. As one might expect boarding schools are centered here, but their position within the prison pipeline and their usage to illegally institutionalize adults is also covered. The topic of labor as a "cure" for Native American ailments, and the participation of many major corporations in this scheme, is also examined here. This is an extremely tough but important read. Highly recommend