She was a 17-year-old slave who underwent approximately 30 anesthetic-free operations for a vesico-vaginal fistula (an abnormal connection between the vagina and bladder resulting in urine coming out of your vagina).

She recovered from the surgery. The racist man who performed these surgeries on her, James Marion Sim (we refuse to call him a doctor), is known as the father of gynaecology.

Anarcha, on the other hand, is known as the mother of gynaecology. She would not have survived these procedures without her strength, courage, and bravery. We couldn’t imagine performing surgery on someone without anaesthesia. Black history is America’s history. Even if the story is not pretty, it must be told.