Spectacle Ota Benga Summary

Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga, a biography, by Pamela Newkirk writes of the story of Ota Benga, a Native African male who was displayed in a cage at the Bronx Zoo during the early 1900s. He was initially purchased by a white missionary, Samuel Phillips Verner, from his home in the Congo during the brutal reign of King Leopold II. Once in the Americas, he was put in various shelters with unhygienic environments to live in, such as an orangutan cage in the Bronx Zoo where feces, urine, and musk were present. The horrible atrocities committed towards Benga is inexcusable and still has not been taken responsibility for. Present day Bronx Zoo should admit to their wrongdoings and commemorate Benga because they caused a significant

He was placed with the Bronx Zoo and soon was put on exhibit in the monkey house. During Benga’s time on display in the zoo, spectators looked down on him as an inferior being and was denied his basic needs:

One researcher, J. P. Grump, found that the most profound shame results from the destruction of your subjectivity when ‘what you need, what you desire, and what you feel are of complete and utter insignificance.

That would certainly apply to Benga as he endured the gawking of spectators utterly indifferent to his feelings. They howled. Gasped. Gaped. Pointed. Jeered.

Benga frequently walked to the door with eyes pleading for his keepers to release him from public view. (Newkirk 12)

Benga endured constant daily harassment from the public. Although he could not understand the English language, he was able to comprehend the intent of their commentary. This, as to any person, likely caused Benga “profound shame.” Additionally, his pleas to be removed from the public’s eye were denied as well as his privacy and freedom. This treatment was undeniably inhumane and, considerably, a human rights violation. Abuse, such as this, is viable of leaving a lasting impact on Benga, hence, making the Bronx Zoo obligated to confess their