Spectacle : the astonishing life of Ota Benga

This is most definitely a history book. It's extensively researched. You need to pay attention while you read it, not just because it's important but because you will become lost in names and in time. Pamela Newkirk unapologetically exposes what actually happened during Ota Benga's life, the lies that were told by the people around him, and how such horrors could happen to a human being not so long ago. She tells a full and complete story and attempts to right some wrongs of the past by giving Ota Benga a voice. Newkirk's research is so thorough, drawing on strong primary resources to provide support for the author's timeline and interpretations. It's particularly interesting how Newkirk found so many instances of people blatantly changing their story to fit whatever narrative they needed at the time. If you decide to pick up this book, just know that it does NOT only follow Ota Benga's life. It is about everything in the world he lived in, both in Africa and the US, and the people who played a part in his life. It addresses important moments in history that shaped the systemic racism of the world today.

The only thing that could have improved this book was a more chronological flow. At times it was a little difficult to remember where we are in Ota Benga's life, especially if it's been a day or two since last reading the book.