Remembering Sarah Baartman: A Painful Legacy Of Exploitation And Resilience

Young Khoisan girls walk near the coffin during the burial ceremony for Sarah Baartman in Hankey, Eastern Province 09 August 2002. Baartman, who was known as the 19th century ‘Hottentot Venus’, was taken to Europe by a British doctor and paraded as an anatomical freak about 200 years ago. After her death parts of her corpse were preserved and displayed in a museum in Paris. She returned to the country from France in May after special legislation was passed. Source: ANNA ZIEMINSKI / Getty

This Black History Month, we honor and remember Sarah Baartman—a name that symbolizes both the painful exploitation of Black women’s bodies and the resilience of their legacy. For centuries, Black women have been objectified, dehumanized, and commodified, and few stories illustrate this harsh reality more than Baartman’s. Her history is one of injustice, but also a reminder of the ongoing fight for dignity and respect. Read more about her story inside.

A Life Stolen for Entertainment

Born in 1770s South Africa, Sarah Baartman was a member of the Khoikhoi people. In her early 20s, her life took a tragic turn when she was coerced into traveling to Europe under false promises of wealth and opportunity. Upon arrival, she was displayed in so-called “freak shows” across London and Paris, where White audiences gawked at her physique, particularly her curvaceous figure and full hips. Europeans found something so innate to Black people to be “exotic.”

Marketed as the “Hottentot Venus,” she was forced to perform in degrading exhibitions, where her humanity was stripped away in the name of entertainment. She was treated as a scientific curiosity, further dehumanized by racist scientists who used her body as “proof” of European superiority.

Forgotten in Death, Reclaimed in History

Khoisan chiefs carry the coffin during the burial ceremony for Sarah Baartman in Hankey, Eastern Province 09 August 2002. Baartman, who was known as the 19th century ‘Hottentot Venus’, was taken to Europe by a British doctor and paraded as an anatomical freak about 200 years ago. After her death parts of her corpse were preserved and displayed in a museum in Paris. She returned to the country from France in May after special legislation was passed. AFP PHOTO ANNA ZIEMINSKI Source: ANNA ZIEMINSKI / Getty

Sarah Baartman died in 1815 at just 26 years old, abandoned and in poverty. Even in death, her body was not granted dignity. Her remains were dissected and her skeleton put on display at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris until 1974.

For nearly two centuries, her story was buried, but her legacy refused to be forgotten. In 1994, Nelson Mandela demanded her remains be returned to South Africa. It wasn’t until 2002 when she was finally laid to rest in her homeland.

A Symbol of Resilience & Justice

Today, Baartman’s story is a reminder of the dehumanization Black women have faced, but also of their enduring strength. She represents the fight against the hyper sexualization, exploitation, and objectification of Black bodies. Her name should be spoken, her story remembered, and her dignity honored.

As we celebrate Black History Month, may we uplift Sarah Baartman’s legacy. Not just as a victim of cruelty, but as a symbol of resilience, dignity, and the ongoing fight for justice.

May we never forget, Sarah Baartman.

Check out a viral post shared by the Instagram account @essenceofblackculture that inspired this story above.

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Sarah Baartman's Painful Legacy of Exploitation and Resilience