Approaches and Objectives
The project draws on a rich collection of archival records, oral histories, blues music, literature, and historical newspapers. It will explore the legacy of this forgotten episode in American history through the following themes
Patent Medicines and Regulation
Although instances of adulterated Jamaica Ginger occurred before Prohibition, federal agencies failed to curtail the practice. This study addresses why so little was done by the federal government to prevent the adulteration of patent medicines before 1930.
Alcohol, Stigma, and Disability
At a time in American history when alcoholism, idleness, and disability were characterized as signs of unfitness, cases of Jamaica Ginger Paralysis led to stigmatization of survivors. This study will help to understand the nature of this disability and the resulting stigmas.
Health Activism and Patient Agency
In a nation divided by race and without national health insurance, the availability and quality of medical care in America was often shaped by region, race, and class. This study will examine how survivors responded to the crisis by devising home remedies, organizing action groups, and pushing for legal recourse.
Cultural Legacy and Historical Memory
Although the Jamaica Ginger Paralysis outbreak was overshadowed by the contemporaneous hardships of the Great Depression and later the Second World War, it nevertheless left a complex lasting legacy through music, literature, and film.
Funding
This project has been generously funded by the Wellcome Trust and the University of Bristol