Ota Benga

Ota Benga, a member of the Mbuti tribe, was born in 1883 and became known for his tragic journey from a life of enslavement to being a sideshow performer. His life took a dramatic turn when he was purchased from African slave traders by businessman Samuel Phillips Verner, who sought to showcase African individuals at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri. Benga's story is a poignant reflection of the exploitation faced by many during this era.

In 1906, Benga was featured as a human zoo exhibit at the Bronx Zoo, where he was controversially placed in a cage alongside an orangutan. This arrangement was not only a gross violation of his dignity but also served to promote the misguided notions of social Darwinism. To enhance the primitive image that was being portrayed, he was given a functional bow and arrow, which he used to defend himself against mocking visitors, ultimately leading to the end of his exhibition.

Following his time at the zoo, Benga lived primarily in Virginia, with a brief return to Africa alongside Verner after the St. Louis fair. His treatment sparked outrage among African-American communities, with editorials condemning the inhumane conditions he faced. In late 1906, New York City Mayor George B. McClellan Jr. intervened, releasing Benga into the care of James H. Gordon, who managed the Howard Colored Orphan Asylum in Brooklyn.

Gordon took significant steps to help Benga reintegrate into society, arranging for his care in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he provided for his clothing and dental work to help him fit in better. Benga learned English and found work in a local tobacco factory. However, his desire to return to Africa was thwarted by the outbreak of World War I, leading to a deepening depression that culminated in his tragic death by suicide in 1916.