Healing After Harm: Slavery, Science, and the Historical Roots of Health Inequity

Course Title: Healing After Harm
Instructor: Emmanuel J. A. Awine
July 8 - July 29, 2026 (4 Sessions)
Wednesdays, 10:00AM - 11:30AM ET 
 

Course Description: This course will use history as a critical lens to examine the roots of contemporary health outcomes and health behaviors, as well as global conversations about structural inequalities. Investigate how a historical perspective can illuminate modern medical practices by revealing how past experiences, particularly slavery, colonialism, and racialized scientific research, continue to shape present-day healthcare systems, medical decision-making, and wellness outcomes.  

Through short documentaries, narrative accounts, and case studies, explore the enduring impact of unethical medical experimentation, the extraction and use of biological materials without consent, and the long-term consequences of racialized research practices. Particular attention will be given to contemporary issues such as vaccine hesitancy and medical mistrust in West Africa, as well as among Black and marginalized communities in the United States.  

Analyze key case studies, including the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the story of Henrietta Lacks, and the history of medical colonialism in West Africa. These examples will enable students to critically analyze the legacy of medical racism and its impact on trust in healthcare systems. Students will develop the analytical tools necessary to engage in public debates on inherited and collective trauma, recognizing that historical stressors are not the result of individual choice but of conditions shaped by historical processes.  

Critically engage the concepts of healing and reconciliation as both historical and public health imperatives. A central focus will be the emerging work of the Museum of Healing and Reconciliation, examined as a living case study. How can a museum move beyond representing histories of suffering to function as an active site for community repair, truth-telling, and psychological well-being?  

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Four weeks. Four courses. One summer of ideas.

The Odyssey Lifelong Learning Program in partnership with the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute presents a dynamic new summer learning experience - Summer Spark Series 2026. Choose from four engaging online courses taught by Johns Hopkins PhD scholars running July 6 – 31 and explore big ideas in history, culture, art, and global connections through small, interactive seminars that meet once each week. 

Developed with support from the Johns Hopkins Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation, these courses bring fresh perspectives, lively discussion, and cutting-edge humanities research straight to you.  To learn more about Summer Spark and explore Summer 2026 course offerings, visit the Odyssey website.
 

Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission and Refund Policies can be found here.

Withdrawals & Refunds:

If a course is canceled or closed, the registrant is notified immediately, and a full refund is processed automatically unless another course is requested. Registrants who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete the online Odyssey Refund Request Form. Attach any documentation to support your request (e.g., medical documentation, family crisis documentation, etc.).

• 100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.

• No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.