Everything Is Tuberculosis: Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

With this shift in understanding came the racialization of TB. In a reverse of what was once commonly believed, the high rates of TB in Black people now signaled white superiority. This is, of course, untrue, and it is racism that caused the increase of Black people becoming infected with TB, as they were more likely to be forced to live in crowded spaces, be malnourished, have higher stress levels, and have less access to healthcare. These prejudices were applied to Irish and Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, too. While this was challenged by Black healthcare workers, it was often ignored or unheard. This understanding negatively impacted treatment of TB, as most physicians focused on race susceptibility instead of the factors that led to infection. As such, TB became a form of racialized violence. 

Once again, this reflects how stigma and social understanding of illness affect those who are ill. Certain diseases are associated with morality; people blame those who have cancer for their illness, citing smoking or poor diet—in other words, personal failings. In actuality, disease has no sense of morality, and those who face illnesses are no more deserving of suffering than anyone else. Stigma is complex, not as prevalent for certain, more benign illnesses, but it is strong in the case of TB. Some would rather die than live with the TB diagnosis, as it is seen to bring shame to one’s family. Henry was lucky not to be abandoned by Isatu, but they were both disowned by their extended family because of their infections.