A Heart's Last Beat

From the series: I Saw You, You See Me #7

In the grim era of human zoos, also known as ethnological expositions, individuals were publicly exhibited in a degrading portrayal of their so-called "natural" or "primitive" state. Six decades ago, Belgium inaugurated the 1958 World Fair, a grand 200-day spectacle celebrating postwar progress in society, culture, and technology. This event marked a sorrowful milestone as the world's final "human zoo," where humans were exhibited like curiosities. Amid this backdrop of dehumanization and exploitation, Ota Benga's tragic life story unfolds, serving as a poignant reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the enduring spirit's quest for freedom and dignity.

Ota Benga, a Mbuti man from Congo, endured a harrowing journey through the dark chapters of history. Exploited and dehumanized, he was displayed in human zoos in the United States, symbolizing the cruelty of the era. Stripped of his homeland's embrace by the outbreak of World War I, Benga's hope dwindled. In his despair, on March 20, 1916, he built a ceremonial fire and, with a borrowed pistol, ended his own life with a single shot to the heart. His tragic story is a poignant reminder of the human spirit's resilience in the face of relentless suffering.