Description
A FINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2023 A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SUMMER BOOK OF 2023 'Important and ambitious' Observer, Book of the Day 'An illuminating and powerful intersectional analysis of health inequalities and racism' i-D Magazine 'Prepare to be blown away' Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General at WHO In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are all too aware of the urgent health inequalities that plague our world. But these inequalities have always been urgent: modern medicine has a colonial and racist history. Here, in an essential and searing account, Annabel Sowemimo unravels the colonial roots of modern medicine. Tackling systemic racism, hidden histories and healthcare myths, Sowemimo recounts her own experiences as a doctor, patient and activist. Divided exposes the racial biases of medicine that affect our everyday lives and provides an illuminating - and incredibly necessary - insight into how our world works, and who it works for. This book will reshape how we see health and medicine - forever. 'A vital call to action' Leah Hazard, author of Womb 'Urgent examination of how modern medicine is intertwined with colonial histories and racist ideas ... compelling story-telling' Joanna Wolfarth, author of Milk 'Outstanding ... beautifully written and erudite, yet highly accessible ... should be mandatory reading for all medical practitioners' Jacqueline Roy, author of The Fat Lady Sings 'Necessary. In the right hands, this book will save lives' Nova Reid, author of The Good Ally
A vital, eye-opening exploration of race and health
About the Author
Dr Annabel Sowemimo is a doctor, activist and writer. As well as being a Sexual and Reproductive Health registrar in the NHS, she is also the founder of community-based organisation Reproductive Justice Initiative, formed to address the colonial history of sexual and reproductive health. Annabel is also a PhD candidate and Harold Moody Scholar at King's College London. Twitter: @sosowemimo.
Reviews
An illuminating and powerful intersectional analysis of health inequalities and racism * i-D Magazine, All the books to be excited for in 2023 *
Important and ambitious ... Divided is a necessary book ... A call to action -- Roopa Farooki, Book of the Day * Observer *
Divided is a vital call to action. With passion and expertise, Dr Sowemimo exposes the racism in modern medicine and shows us how we can - and must - transform healthcare for future generations. -- Leah Hazard
An unflinching, hugely eye-opening exploration of medicine's brutal colonial history * The i *
Annabel Sowemimo ... is taking the art of curating stories that matter to another level. Prepare to be blown away. -- Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General at WHO
Divided restores [historic Black and Indigenous scientists] to the history of medicine and makes a convincing case for decolonising healthcare * New Scientist *
Through meticulous research and compelling story-telling, the book is an erudite and urgent examination of how modern medicine is intertwined with colonial histories and racist ideas. Annabel deftly weaves history, her own experiences and contemporary inequalities into a powerful and urgent book. While essential reading for anyone working in healthcare, Annabel reminds us that the arts and humanities were also instrumental in communicating so-called 'scientific' ideas about race that informed medical practices. This is an urgent and important reading for anyone engaged in anti-racist and decolonising work across all disciplines. -- Joanna Wolfarth, author of MILK
Necessary. In the right hands, this book will save lives -- Nova Reid, author of THE GOOD ALLY
This outstanding book should be mandatory reading for all medical practitioners. Beautifully written and erudite, yet highly accessible, it conveys some uncomfortable truths about the unequal treatment of patients of colour, locating the origins of this in European colonialism, history and science. It provides a basis for bringing an end to discriminatory practices, which couldn't be more timely, particularly in the context of COVID. Annabel Sowemimo's compassion and humanity shine through. I can't stress the importance of this book strongly enough. -- Jacqueline Roy, author of THE FAT LADY SINGS
Wide-ranging in scope, Divided is an important contribution to the literature on racism and health. Dr Sowemimo challenges us to think deeper about what we know about medicine and question what we have been taught. Divided is an essential book for anyone working in healthcare, and will be of interest to anyone who is a patient. I will be recommending it far and wide! -- Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan
This polemic [...] explains how health divisions are not accidental but occur because of ways in which modern healthcare is built on the back of race science and our colonial history. * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *
Racism is still rife in a health system weighed down by a legacy of eugenics, unethical experimentation and egregious inequality, writes black doctor Sowemimo in this important plea to decolonise modern medicine -- Best Summer Books 2023, selected by Anjana Ahuja * FT *
Awards
Short-listed for Orwell Prize 2023 (UK).
Book Information
ISBN 9781788169202
Author Dr Annabel Sowemimo
Format Hardback
Page Count 416
Imprint Wellcome Collection
Publisher Profile Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 150mm * 232mm * 32mm
A vital, eye-opening exploration of race and health
About the Author
Dr Annabel Sowemimo is a doctor, activist and writer. As well as being a Sexual and Reproductive Health registrar in the NHS, she is also the founder of community-based organisation Reproductive Justice Initiative, formed to address the colonial history of sexual and reproductive health. Annabel is also a PhD candidate and Harold Moody Scholar at King's College London. Twitter: @sosowemimo.
Reviews
An illuminating and powerful intersectional analysis of health inequalities and racism * i-D Magazine, All the books to be excited for in 2023 *
Important and ambitious ... Divided is a necessary book ... A call to action -- Roopa Farooki, Book of the Day * Observer *
Divided is a vital call to action. With passion and expertise, Dr Sowemimo exposes the racism in modern medicine and shows us how we can - and must - transform healthcare for future generations. -- Leah Hazard
An unflinching, hugely eye-opening exploration of medicine's brutal colonial history * The i *
Annabel Sowemimo ... is taking the art of curating stories that matter to another level. Prepare to be blown away. -- Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General at WHO
Divided restores [historic Black and Indigenous scientists] to the history of medicine and makes a convincing case for decolonising healthcare * New Scientist *
Through meticulous research and compelling story-telling, the book is an erudite and urgent examination of how modern medicine is intertwined with colonial histories and racist ideas. Annabel deftly weaves history, her own experiences and contemporary inequalities into a powerful and urgent book. While essential reading for anyone working in healthcare, Annabel reminds us that the arts and humanities were also instrumental in communicating so-called 'scientific' ideas about race that informed medical practices. This is an urgent and important reading for anyone engaged in anti-racist and decolonising work across all disciplines. -- Joanna Wolfarth, author of MILK
Necessary. In the right hands, this book will save lives -- Nova Reid, author of THE GOOD ALLY
This outstanding book should be mandatory reading for all medical practitioners. Beautifully written and erudite, yet highly accessible, it conveys some uncomfortable truths about the unequal treatment of patients of colour, locating the origins of this in European colonialism, history and science. It provides a basis for bringing an end to discriminatory practices, which couldn't be more timely, particularly in the context of COVID. Annabel Sowemimo's compassion and humanity shine through. I can't stress the importance of this book strongly enough. -- Jacqueline Roy, author of THE FAT LADY SINGS
Wide-ranging in scope, Divided is an important contribution to the literature on racism and health. Dr Sowemimo challenges us to think deeper about what we know about medicine and question what we have been taught. Divided is an essential book for anyone working in healthcare, and will be of interest to anyone who is a patient. I will be recommending it far and wide! -- Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan
This polemic [...] explains how health divisions are not accidental but occur because of ways in which modern healthcare is built on the back of race science and our colonial history. * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *
Racism is still rife in a health system weighed down by a legacy of eugenics, unethical experimentation and egregious inequality, writes black doctor Sowemimo in this important plea to decolonise modern medicine -- Best Summer Books 2023, selected by Anjana Ahuja * FT *
Awards
Short-listed for Orwell Prize 2023 (UK).
Book Information
ISBN 9781788169202
Author Dr Annabel Sowemimo
Format Hardback
Page Count 416
Imprint Wellcome Collection
Publisher Profile Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 150mm * 232mm * 32mm
