In a small village far south Africa, a girl named Baartman was born. Her physical characteristics are unique in the village.
There, she was the pride of her family and the joy of her friends. However, when she embarks on a journey to Europe, her fortunes are turned upside down.
Bartman
New to a foreign country: the clash between dreams and reality
In 1810, at the age of 21, Bartman, with the dream of becoming a model, boarded a ship bound for England. In Cape Town, South Africa, Bartman's life is full of challenges and hardships. She was born in a small village and lived in poverty.
But she always had a dream in her heart: to become a model and stand on the shining stage. When night falls, she stands by the creek in the village and says to the reflection on the water: "I want to find my stage there." ”
One wet early morning, she embarks on a journey to London. The days on the ship were full of novelty and anticipation for her. She often stood on the deck, gazing at the horizon in the distance, imagining the bustle of London and the new life she was about to embark on.
Africa
However, when she arrived in London, everything changed. She was taken to a crowded, filthy exhibition hall. Her employer said to her, "Your body, your appearance, these are our treasures." ”
She realizes that she has been scammed. In her shocked gaze, she was locked in an iron cage and became the object of curious stares.
Every day, crowds of people come to the exhibition hall, and they point and talk about her appearance. Bartman felt humiliation and fear like never before. She had fantasized about being in the limelight, but never in this way. She tried to explain to people, but her words were drowned out by ridicule and incomprehension.
Humiliating days in London For four years in London, Bartman spent every day in a cage in the Pavilion. Located on a busy street in central London, the exhibition hall is watched by hordes of curious spectators every day.
Africa
Baartman's life in the village was hard, but at least he had freedom. However, now that she is imprisoned in this small space, it has become an exotic spectacle. Whenever an audience member came to her cage, Bartman felt an inexplicable sense of fear and humiliation.
Her body became the center of discussion, and everyone's gaze cut her heart like a knife. She began to rebel gradually, even though she knew it might be futile. At one point, a curious viewer reached out to touch her body, and Bartman angrily pushed him away, exclaiming, "I'm a human, not an animal!"
But her rebellion didn't make any difference. Batman felt hopeless, she sat limply in the corner of the cage, tears silently rolling down her eyes. During this time, Bartman also met some sympathetic people.
Bartman
There was an English lady who often came to the exhibition hall and stood quietly in front of Bartman's cage, her eyes full of sympathy and anger. She tried to talk to Bartman, telling her, "It's not fair and you deserve to be released." ”
But in those days, the voice was too faint to change Bartman's fate.
During these four years, Bartman's psyche was deeply traumatized. Her health also gradually deteriorated. The long period of captivity and mental stress made her body weaker and weaker. She began to get sick frequently, but her captives did not care about her health, only how much income she could bring them.
During these tragic days, Bartman could only pray silently in her heart, hoping that one day she would be able to regain her freedom and return to her beloved hometown. However, fate was not kind to her, and her dream could never be realized. The experience of these four years is an indelible dark memory for Bartman.
Bartman
The tragic experience in Paris In 1814, after a difficult time in London, Bartman's fate plunged further into darkness. She was sold to a circus in France by her captives. When she was brought to Paris, she thought there might be a new beginning, but in reality, her fate became even more miserable.
Bartman's daily routine turned into a performance in the circus. She was forced to wear fancy clothes and stand on the stage to become a laughing stock in the eyes of the audience. The performances were full of humiliation, and the audience not only laughed at her appearance, but also verbally insulted her.
Sometimes, some audience members are even allowed to go on stage, and they will touch her body, which makes Bartman feel extreme shame and fear.
In the circus, Bartman meets several companions, who are also entertainers who are forced to perform. There is a girl named Mary who sympathizes with Bartman's plight. After one of the performances, Bartman said to Mary, "I feel like I've lost my soul. ”
Bartman
Bartman, in his life in the circus, loses his self-esteem and dignity. Every night, when the lights went out and the audience dispersed, she sat alone in the corner of the dressing room, crying silently. She misses her hometown.
During his days in Paris, Bartman's health deteriorated further. The prolonged mental stress and physical abuse made her increasingly weak. She began to suffer from severe depression and lived in despair and helplessness every day.
Despite all the suffering, Bartman still holds on to a glimmer of hope. She hopes to one day escape this cage and return to her hometown. She prayed silently in her heart that she could regain her freedom and return to the land she missed so much.
However, fate was not merciful to Bartman. Her life in the circus turned into an endless nightmare, repeated every day with humiliation and pain. This experience was deeply imprinted on her psyche and became an indelible scar for her life.
Bartman
Scientific experiments and racial discrimination
At the circus in Paris, Bartmann not only suffered humiliation from the audience, but also attracted the attention of a scientist named Cuvier. Cuvier became intrigued by Bartman's physical characteristics and considered her an excellent sample for studying racial differences.
As proud of her body, Bartman never imagined that it would be a source of her pain. Cuvier began a series of scientific experiments on Bartmann. He measured her body, took pictures of her, and performed various physiological tests.
Bartman felt extremely insulted and frightened, and she couldn't understand why her body was the subject of such a study. In a cold laboratory, Bartman said to Cuvier in anguish: "You have experimented on me, but you have never seen my pain. ”
Bartman
But Cuvier was indifferent to her feelings, he just coldly recorded the data. These experiments were not only a violation of Bartman's body, but also a violation of her dignity. She was treated as a subject of study rather than as a person of affection and dignity.
Cuvier's experiments were riddled with racism, and he treated Bartman as an exotic "spectacle" rather than a man with a rich emotional and background. During the experiment, Bartman felt himself being tortured both physically and mentally.
Cuvier's experiments continued for months, however, and there seemed to be no end to Bartman's suffering. Her heart was deeply wounded, and she felt that her dignity and humanity were being stripped away little by little. In this strange country, she felt lonely and helpless like never before.
Bartman
Death and Dignity After Death In 1816, Bartman's life came to an end in a foreign land. After countless pains and humiliations, she died in France at the age of 27. Her life was full of struggles and pains, but she never lost her desire for freedom and dignity.
In her final moments, she was reminded of her distant homeland – a peaceful little village in South Africa with her family, friends, and her carefree childhood memories.
Bartman's body did not receive the respect it deserved after her death. Her remains were made into taxidermy and displayed in the museum.
This display is not only a continuation of the suffering she suffered during her lifetime, but also a violation of her dignity after death. Her body, even after death, is still viewed as an exotic wonder.
Africa
This has been the case for almost two centuries. It wasn't until 2002, after a long period of effort and diplomatic representation, that Bartman's body was finally returned to her native South Africa. Her remains are buried in the village where she was born, the place that once witnessed the laughter of her childhood.
At her grave, many people gathered to pay their respects to the woman who had suffered so much. An African scholar stood at her grave with tears in his eyes and said, "She can finally rest in peace." ”
Baartman's Tomb
epilogue
Bartman's story was ignored by the world for a long time after her death, but her experiences and encounters gradually became known and recognized. She has become a symbol of the history of racial discrimination and human rights violations, and her story has inspired deep thinking about dignity, freedom and equality.
At her cemetery, people laid flowers to express their condolences and respect for her. Bartman's tombstone is inscribed with her name and her life. Her story teaches the world that no matter who a person is, they deserve to be treated with respect and equality.