Race & Psychiatry in Slavery's Wake

Sean Graham talks with Judith Weisenfeld, author of Black Religion in the Madhouse: Race & Psychiatry in Slavery's Wake. They discuss about the origins of the book, how the antebellum period shaped perceptions of African American religion, and the role of 'religious excitement' in insanity diagnoses. They also chat about the connections between race and religion, the pathologizing of religion by professional psychiatrists, and the legacy of this era.

Historical Headline of the Week

Mark Moran, "Faith Communities Are Potent Resources for Creating Connection and 'Mattering'," Psychiatric News, December 9, 2020.