Isabel Iino, a Laidlaw Scholar at Barnard College, on Magico-Religious Healing & The Campaign Against Medical Quackery In Harlem Between 1922-1936
Research title:
Magico-Religious Healing & The Campaign Against Medical Quackery In Harlem Between 1922-1936
My research examines the Black diasporic healing practices of Harlem between 1922 and 1936. It argues that the New York Health Department (NYHD) and commensurable medical authorities created conditions for social death among Black Harlemites. My research uses Orlando Patterson's framework for social death and natal alienation to contextualize the implications of the campaign against medical “quackery” and the contemporaneous neglect of the Central Harlem Health District. In contextualizing the extent and impact of Harlem’s medical neglect, my research brings to light the inadequacy of Harlem Hospital and the failures of public health demonstrations in addressing the needs of the Black Harlem community. Moreover, it details how the campaign against medical quackery, under the guise of a public health initiative, upheld medical knowledge rooted in white supremacy, perpetuated racist stereotypes, and contributed to the ongoing process of cultural dispossession. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how the NYHD's policies perpetuated exclusionary racialized knowledge and underscores the need for an epistemic transformation in our understanding of health, healing, and well-being.
Where did your passion for this research originate? How does your personal story feed into it?
My idea for this research stemmed from a paper I wrote for an indigenous studies class, where I discussed the role of vodou in the Harlem Renaissance. During my research process, I learned about how the stigmatization of vodou manufactured consent for the dispossession of the Caribbean and African Americans throughout history. I felt it was a great injustice that not more has been done in academia and popular culture to destigmatize vodou; this compelled me to apply to Laidlaw.
In the archive, I was moved by the story of three-year old LeRoy Samuels, who, in 1927, was rushed to the hospital by his mother, only for doctors to prematurely discharge him after deeming Samuels untreatable. In his mother’s unwavering effort to save Samuels’ life, she brought him to a “voodoo doctor,” a magico-religious healer, as an alternative to the medical treatment Samuels was denied. This story was significant to my research. In addition to propelling me to tell archival stories, it complicated the narrative about magico-religious healers in NYC as entirely negative. Stories like these also revealed how so-called ‘voodoo doctors’ provided people–such as Samuels’ mother, with agency–offering alternative forms of healing and care that were not confined to Western medical epistemologies.
What is the most memorable moment from your Laidlaw scholarship experience so far?
The most memorable moment from my Laidlaw scholarship experience has been working with and speaking to indigenous and tribal women in Kerala, India, as a CraftHER scholar. It was wonderful to share a meal with them, and learning a little about their community knowledge regarding beeswax and basket weaving. Moreover, it gave me a new kind of passion for environmental justice, hearing their experiences about how unsustainable tourism practices have disrupted elephant paths, causing elephant attacks in tribal areas. This experience deepened my respect for their expertise and resilience and also inspired me to pursue advocacy that centers community voices in conversations about sustainability by making a policy brief using their input. It reminded me that true solutions must honor both people and the environment they protect.
https://forestpost.in/?srsltid=AfmBOoqkqVzRzhQnWkrRznOFL7Igp3NfJ9DePdr1CYdLcOrIXv1XWDIJ
Isabel in Kerala with tribal women employed with Forest Post, A brand that brings together sustainably harvested forest produce, value added and handmade by 3 different indigenous communities from Kerala.
What is the biggest challenge you came across in your research and leadership journeys so far, and what did you learn from it?
The biggest challenge I came across in my research and leadership journeys so far has been learning to see rejection and dead ends as redirection instead of as obstacles. During the research process, this meant taking advantage of gaps in primary sources and secondary research, using a lack of information or documentation as information itself. During my time in India, this meant adapting to unexpected hurdles in fieldwork and communication, and reframing logistical setbacks as opportunities to listen more closely, build trust, and gain deeper insight into the communities I was working with.
What does it mean for you to be a Laidlaw Scholar?
To me, being a Laidlaw scholar means merging the worlds of ethical research and advocacy. The way my research taught me to be critical of my own epistemologies and embody others’ ways of thinking was instrumental to my time in India, meeting and working with people with completely different backgrounds than my own.
Which particular leaders inspire you the most and why?
One of the leaders who inspires me the most is Jacinda Ardern because her contributions are helping redefine what leadership looks like for women by embracing empathy and balance.As Prime Minister of New Zealand, she led her country through crises with compassion and clarity; she demonstrated that strong leadership need not be accomplished through rigidity or detachment. I find it especially inspiring that she modeled taking time off after giving birth while serving the highest political office in New Zealand. She challenged the notion that women must choose between caregiving and this type of leadership.
Ardern resonates with me because I want to create spaces where ambitious young women do not feel like they need to sacrifice their personal goals to succeed. Ardern proved that vulnerability and humanity can coexist with excellence, and that redefining leadership is as much about how we live as what we achieve.
Briefly describe a scene from the future you are striving to create.
In the future, I imagine a scene where young women from different backgrounds are sitting together at a large, long table, sharing food, stories, and ideas without the fear of being silenced or overlooked. On this table, different types of knowledge are equally valued, not just the ones that come from university classrooms. I see myself helping to create the bridges that make this possible: through research, advocacy, and community-building, I want to ensure that marginalized voices are centered, knowledge is respected across boundaries, and justice—social, economic, and environmental—is the foundation we stand on.
Quick-fire Questions
📺 Currently Binging:
📚 My top book recommendation:
🎶 My anthem:
🎶 Current Podcast Obsession:
🌈 Something that made me feel joy recently:
My sister
If you want to learn more about Isabel's work, explore her research here and follow her on Linkedin. Isabel is a Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholar at @Barnard College. Become a Laidlaw Scholar to conduct a research project of your choice, develop your leadership skills, and join a global community of changemakers from world-leading universities.
Find out more about the Laidlaw Scholars Undergraduate Leadership and Research Programme.
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