SPECTACLE

This was a very timely read given the threat of North Korea on Guam, a place most people in the U.S. do not even know is a U.S. territory. Although this book does not specifically discuss Guam, it does focus on the imperialism of the U.S. which is very much related to Guam.It is amazing the amount of things that are not mentioned in the classroom when discussing U.S. history. This book speaks to the imperialist past of the U.S. by highlighting a very specific story that illustrates this seemingly forgotten past.Ota Benga was kidnapped from his home in the Congo to be put on display at the St. Louis World's Fair as well as the Bronx Zoo. At the time the science community, specifically the anthropological community, was very focused on displaying the superiority of the white race, relative to African people, specifically ones like Ota Benga (he was a Mbuti pygmy).Pamela Newkirk did an amazing job researching what she could on the information available on Ota Benga. A lot of the available information was skewed and/or biased given that it was not coming directly from Ota Benga. Nevertheless, she did a wonderful job letting the reader know that this was not necessarily the truth and to be skeptical. I appreciated though that she presented the information available in a matter of fact manner to allow the reader to make their own judgment on the information presented.The length of the book was perfect. I realize that it is hard with these sort of topics to know how much to put it and what to leave out. Additionally, Pamela integrated details on the African-American community of the time, beyond just the scope of their role in the release of Ota Benga from the Bronx Zoo. However, what stood out to me the most was the incorporation of the role the St. Louis World's Fair, zoos, museums and anthropology played in the imperialism of the U.S. It is not often that you happen upon a book that is able to cover such a breadth of topics and so well. Pamela Newkirk not only gave justice to the story of Ota Benga, but successfully used his tragic life story as a means to explain the greater forces at work. "The presence of Benga and his countrymen-- along with the Native American; the Filipinos and Igorot; and the Japanese Ainu--was intended to highlight the United States' conquests, imperialism, and progress". - Pamela Newkirk

I found it very mind-boggling to read about a human being that was taken from his native land and put on display at a zoo for all of the world to see like some caged animal. Even though the book is not solely about Benga, I learned so many more facts about other things from reading this book. This was a great history lesson.My favorite line in this book... "Minik cried, you're a race of scientific criminals, I am glad enough to get away before they grab my brains and stuff them in a jar".It's disturbing to know that people study other cultures and somehow want to change a person's way of life to suit your own. Its like invading someone's personal space. They actually called them savages when the real savages are the ones that go into these different environments and try to change them

An interesting insight to this time and era, though as I read I couldn’t help thinking there was some author bias, perhaps it moves the story along. I had only the author’s view to go off of as I know nothing of Central Africa at that time though much of what is written can also be found in other books on the subject, and was aligned to what I have read.Then I got to the chapter of the St. Louis Fair and it too sounded believable until she mentions Verner rejoining the group found shivering outside in the frigid fairgrounds huddled around a fire and borrowed coats.This occurred in St. Louis Missouri on August 5th 1903.Now I grew up in Missouri, so I know nothing of Africa but I do know Missouri weather and describing it as frigid in August is a far stretch, August is traditionally the warmest month of the year and the 5th is considered part of the “dog days of summer” it is so hot.I did a little research and discovered that June 5th 1903 was one of the coldest days of that month. It was 50 F. degrees, which I agree is cool but still not frigid, given two more months of summer and there is no way any August day was cooler than that. If the author said they were sunburned and suffering from heat stroke it would be far more believable than shivering in frigid weather.So I was willing to accept the book’s narrative until that mention and I called BS, making it harder to believe the remainder of the book and I was not even halfway through.I am from Missouri after all, The Show Me state.

Just finished reading this yesterday, on the heels of reading a book about lynching. The research done to pull this together is phenomenal, and is the first time I’ve learned about King Leopold of Belgium and the atrocities of that government in the Congo. (Prompted me to purchase a book on the history of the Congo).This truth contained in this story is an excellent example of how the conqueror controls the narrative, and of the evil that men do.

If you can get past the glaring inhumanity of stealing a human being from his home and then propping him up in a bare cage as a major attraction with monkeys and apes in the 20th century, then you can probably figure out how to stomach the rest of the book.Ota’s sad journey from the Congo as the ward of an avowed racist is almost too much to bear, then to realize he was put on display not once but twice (the other being the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis), and then left to his own devices to find his way back home only to end up in Lynchburg, Virginia (of all places).America’s long standing system apartheid made Ota Benga’s story almost inevitable... and SPOILER ALERT: his sad story does not have a happy ending.

Very moving account of a reprehensible time in history. The author's presentation is a bit difficult to follow due to her reverting to the historical backgrounds in order to substantiate her facts. This story is appalling and brings to the forefront man's inhumanity and disregard of other human beings perceived to be less than.

A very sad and soul destroying episode..

Great

amazing book, shows how good the american culture is. Should be made academic compulsory reading book at schools.

I have been recommended to buy Spectacle, I've never had a chance to read it. I purchased 2 books, one for a friend of mine.He was so emotional about it. At the same time my friend told me there was a mixed feelings as well. I believe Oto Benga, it's a nice book.