The Breakfast Club - IDKMYDE: Drapetomania and the Lexicon of Oppession

Episode Date: February 10, 2025

On todays episode of IDKMYDE we introduce words of oppression like, Drapetomania: the 19th-century ‘diagnosis’ that labeled enslaved people wanting freedom as mentally ill—because apparently, the real problem wasn’t slavery, it was the desire to escape it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and badder than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila. And we're the hosts of the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast, brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much. And women have quietly listened.

And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your tribe. Listen to the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. Snakes, zombies, sharks, heights, speaking in public, the list of fears is endless.

But while you're clutching your blanket in the dark, wondering if that sound in the hall was actually a footstep, the real danger is in your hand, when you're behind the wheel. And while you might think a great white shark is scary, what's really terrifying and even deadly is distracted driving. Eyes forward, don't drive distracted. Brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council. Hi, this is Alex Kanczewicz.

I'm the host of Big Technology Podcast, a longtime reporter and an on air contributor to CNBC. And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you wanna be smart with your wallet,

your career choices, and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology Podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Catch Jon Stewart back in action on The Daily Show, and in your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment, to the unique voices

of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in-depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On today's episode of I Didn't Know, Maybe You Didn't Either, let's talk about something wild. Drapedomania. Now, don't worry, it's not another WWE event, it's not a new crypto scam or a TikTok trend. It's actually a piece of history that's so ridiculous it sounds like satire. Back in 1851 this guy named Samuel Cartwright, he's a doctor mind you, comes up with this disease

called Draptomania. And what was this illness you ask? Well I'll share. It was when enslaved black people wanted to escape. Yes, apparently wanting freedom was considered a mental disorder. Like, oh wait you don't enjoy being beaten and overworked and treated like property? Must be something wrong with your brain. And Dr. Cartwright wasn't just joking around.

He had treatment plans. Spoiler alert, they weren't great. His cure was basically, you just gotta hit them harder, because you know, nothing says mental health care like a little violence. But drapedomania wasn't the only wild word they came up with during this time. Oh no, they had a whole lexicon of oppression. Take chattel, for example. That's what they called the enslaved people.

You've heard of chattel slavery? Yeah, chattel means property, like a couch or a cow. Imagine being referred to as someone's love seat. Or how about the term fugitive slave? That term was for people who escaped slavery They made it sound like these folks were robbing banks instead of you know, trying to not be enslaved Then there were the slave codes and we've discussed these in previous seasons of I didn't know maybe you didn't either But these were actually laws Designed to control enslaved people they dictated where you could go, who you could talk to, even whether you could learn to read.

Like, we're already stealing your freedom, but let's go ahead and micromanage your existence too. Oh, here's another fun one, manumissions. Now these were rare, because that's when an enslaver decided to free someone. Thoughtful. Congratulations, you're free. Now go figure out life in a world

has been set up to screw you over. They also had a term, the task system. And that's where enslaved people were given daily assignments, instead of just working from sun up to sundown. Yeah, people actually thought this was progress. It's like saying, good news, you only have to suffer for half the day now.

So why am I telling you all this? Because words have power. Back then they used words to dehumanize, to control, to justify the unjustifiable. And today we still see how language shapes the way we view people and history. But here's the thing, we get to decide how we use our words now. So let's use them to lift each other up, to tell the truth and to remind the world that no one should ever need a diagnosis to want their freedom. Drapetomania, a word that I didn't know.

Maybe you didn't either. I didn't know. The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and batter than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila. And we're the hosts of the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast, brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday.

Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much. And women have quietly listened. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your tribe. Listen to the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast.

Snakes, zombies, public speaking, the list of fears is endless. But the real danger is in your hand when you're behind the wheel. Distracted driving is what's really scary and even deadly. Eyes forward, don't drive distracted. Brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council. Hi, this is Alex Kanczewicz. I'm the host of Big Technology Podcast, a longtime reporter and an

on-air contributor to CNBC. And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech, asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you wanna be smart with your wallet, your career choices, and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology Podcast on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. John Stewart is back at The Daily Show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the shows, correspondents, and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups,

this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.