Calamity in Philadelphia

<p>In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic almost destroyed Philadelphia. The young city was saved by two Black preachers, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, who organized the free Black community in providing essential services and nursing the sick and dying. Allen and Jones were assured of two things: that stepping up would help them gain full equality and citizenship, and that they were immune to the disease. Neither promise turned out to be true. </p> <h2>About <em>Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race</em></h2> <p>“Calamity in Philadelphia” is Episode 2 of <em><a href="../../../innate" data-cke-saved-href= "/innate">Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race</a>, </em>a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through <a href= "../../../distillations" data-cke-saved-href= "/distillations">Distillations</a>, the Science History Institute’s highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. <em>Innate </em>is made possible in part by the <em><a title="https://www.neh.gov/" href="https://www.neh.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href= "https://www.neh.gov/">National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom</a>.</em></p> <h2>Credits</h2> <p>Hosts: <a href="../../../profile/alexis-j-pedrick" data-cke-saved-href="/profile/alexis-j-pedrick">Alexis Pedrick</a> and <a href= "https://www.sciencehistory.org/profile/elisabeth-berry-drago" data-cke-saved-href= "https://www.sciencehistory.org/profile/elisabeth-berry-drago">Elisabeth Berry Drago</a><br /> Senior Producer: <a href="../../../profile/mariel-carr" data-cke-saved-href="/profile/mariel-carr">Mariel Carr</a><br /> Producer: <a href="../../../profile/rigoberto-hernandez" data-cke-saved-href="/profile/rigoberto-hernandez">Rigoberto Hernandez</a><br /> Associate Producer: <a href= "https://sciencehistory.org/profile/padmini-parthasarathy" data