03/28/2026
Celebrating Women’s History Month
Remembering: ANARCHA, LUCY, & BETSEY
By Zuri K. Colbert and Faye Wilson Kennedy, Black Hair & Black Hygiene (BHBH) Project
Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey were three of several enslaved teenagers and women from plantations in and around Montgomery, Alabama, who were instrumental in advancing reproductive health and gynecology. Dr. J. Marion Sims- repeated experimental surgeries on Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey without consent, without anesthesia, without regard for their humanity, in the 1840’s progressed obstetrics medicine that exists in the modern world today. Dr. J. Marion Sims published the progression as his “success,” and moved to New York to seek fame and fortune where he was revered as the Father of Gynecology.
The story of Black women’s pain—by contrast, Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey disappeared from history. They changed the world, only to be forgotten by it. This tends to be the end of the narrative in American history but this month we are honoring “her story” and the colossal contributions of Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey, and the women who were forced to forfeit their lives for us to live today. Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey, came from three separate white plantations that sought the advice and expertise of Dr. James Marion Sims in 1845. Regardless of the existing physical and gynecological impairments of Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey, they were offered over to Dr. James Marion Sims for experimental operations due to the frustration of the plantation owners to find a cure.
It was not for the genuine care of these enslaved women.
It was because they could no longer bear children.
It was for securing their present and future free labor for their plantations.
It was because of the distorted beliefs that Black people were less human, had a high tolerance for pain, and were willing participants in the dehumanization to justify slavery.
It was the sub-human rhetoric that excused the suffering these ladies endured with multiple barbaric surgeries without their permission, comfort, then disposed of from the historical narrative.
Even in 2026, Black women continue to face stark health disparities, with maternal mortality rates over three times higher than those of white women. Key challenges include high rates of cardiovascular disease (nearly 60% of Black women), hypertension, and breast cancer. Systemic issues, including bias in care, limited access, and socioeconomic factors, contribute to these persistent, often preventable, inequities. This is compounded by the intersectionality of multiple forms of discrimination, racism, and sexism for Black women.
Black women are nearly three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Severe maternal morbidity is two times higher for Black women, and the mortality rate remains significantly elevated at over 3 times the rate of white women (49.4 vs. 14.9 per 100,000).
Additionally, about 34% of Black women report changing providers, experiencing worsening health, or avoiding care because of negative, discriminatory experiences.
Almost 200 years, 1845-2026, later, the health conditions and outcomes for Black women are still not good. Specifically, Black women continue to face stark health disparities in maternal mortality and reproductive health in the present day regardless of income, status, and access to care. The intersectionality for Black women who face several lanes of oppression extends to adequate mental health and public health inequities for lack of essentials for over-all health. Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey were the Godmothers of Gynecology, and their suffering provided the advancements in health and medicine that Black women themselves do not even benefit from. Put some respect on their names. This is their story, this is herstory, this is Women’s History which is American history.
Sources:
www.anarchalucybetsey.org
https://www.anarchalucybetsey.org/anarchalucyandbetsey
Cronin M. (Anarcha, Betsey, Lucy, and the women whose names were not recorded: The legacy of J Marion Sims.
Anesthesia and Intensive Care. 2020;48(3_suppl):6-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0310057X20966606
ACOG Committee Opinion No. 729: Importance of Social Determinants of Health and Cultural Awareness in the
Delivery of Reproductive Health Care. Obstetrics & Gynecology 131(1): p e43-e48, January 2018. | DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002459
Artist Michelle Browder Creates 'Mothers of Gynecology' Monument to Enslaved Women Who Endured
Experiments: Alabama artist works to correct historical narrative around the beginnings of gynecology: https://youtu.be/_9l3Ptx4DpY
Kuta, S. (2022, May 11). Subjected to painful experiments and forgotten, enslaved “mothers of gynecology” are honored with a new monument. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mothers of-gynecology-monument-honors-enslaved-women-180980064/
Combahee River Collective-American organization:https://www.britannica.com/topic/Combahee-River-Collective
• The Black Hair and Black Hygiene (BHBH) Project provides free culturally appropriate products and resources to Black unhoused individuals and other marginalized community members in the Sacramento region.
The Black Hair and Black Hygiene (BHBH) Project, Co-Founders, Zuri K Colbert with Nafisah Timmons, Sister Brenda Joyce, Aaliyah Muhmmad, and Faye Wilson Kennedy
