King Davis

In this insightful discussion, King Davis, a former Virginia behavioral health commissioner and professor, explores the dark legacy of the 1840 census on Black mental health. He reveals how the census inaccurately linked freedom to insanity, which led to harmful stereotypes and practices. Davis highlights the role of pro-slavery leaders in manipulating data for their agenda and examines the long-term consequences of overdiagnosis and biased care in Black communities. His personal reflections underscore the emotional toll of historical injustices on families.