In his contribution to our project “Healthcare for All? Methods, Knowledge, and Agency in Addressing Global Inequalities in Medical Care Using the Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Lawrence N. Y. Oduro-Sarpong examines eurocentric narratives in medical history. Using the development of the smallpox vaccine as an example, the author criticizes the omission of contributions by non-European medical practitioners in dominant historical accounts. The enslaved African Onesimus introduced the knowledge of variolation, an early immunization practice, from West Africa to Boston. While initially met with resistance, this practice was later successfully applied in combating a smallpox epidemic. The contributions of Onesimus and other non-European cultures are systematically distorted or excluded in historical narratives, whereas European figures such as Edward Jenner and Benjamin Jesty are prominently highlighted. The text calls for a fairer representation of the contributions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to civilization. Only through recognition and appreciation of these contributions can historical distortions be rectified, and a more equitable narrative established.
The article can be read here: Coloniality of Knowledge – A case of distortions and omissions.
Onesimus, the enslaved African who gave the basic idea for today`s known Vaccination.
The project Healthcare for All is funded by ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL with funds from the BMZ as well as by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises/State Office for Development Cooperation. Responsibility for the content of the contributions lies solely with the subsidized institution. The positions presented here do not reflect the views of Engagement Global, the BMZ, or the Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises.