The "Freaks" Watching The Freakshow

"In any case it was a small price to pay for the fun they might never have again. Two pennies and an insult were well spent if it meant seeing the spectacle of whitefolks making a spectacle of themselves." (pg. 58)

Freakshows used to be a big form of entertainment back in the 1800's. According to History Magazine, "The historical traditions of freak shows and exhibitions date back to the reign of England’s Elizabeth I, as early as the 16th century." People with freakish disabilities would be paid to perform for crowds of people. Although this was probably humiliating for the disabled people it was better than having to go to jail or mental facilities for being different. The freakshows were like a circus but instead of them showing off talents they had practiced, their talents were the deformities in their bodies.

In the time period Beloved takes place in, this was right after slavery had just ended. The African American community was treated much like people in freak shows. In the south having a disability was looked at much like being African American where you would be treated differently. "The stigmatization of disability resulted in the social and economic marginalization of generations of Americans with disabilities, and like many other oppressed minorities, left people with disabilities in a severe state of impoverishment for centuries." They were looked at as 1/2 a human and were kept as property. After many years of being treated like they were nothing the blacks started to believe it as well.

In this particular part of the story all of the African Americans have gathered to a Carnival to watch a "spectacle of whitefolks" with strange disabilities. Sethe, Denver and Paul D all walked down a long road covered with roses along the side to go check out the carnival with freaks in it. For two pennies they were able to enjoy a fun day mocking the whites in the freakshows with disabilities.  It is very ironic to have the whites now being laughed at, opposed to the other way around during slavery, and looked as not "real" people.