CBH Talk | The Birth of Identity: Race, Racism, and Personhood in the New York City Health Records скачать в хорошем качестве

CBH Talk | The Birth of Identity: Race, Racism, and Personhood in the New York City Health Records

Founded in 1805 during a yellow fever epidemic, the New York City Health Department began recording births and deaths in 1847—a foundational public health function. These earliest records, however, did not recognize personhood in the way we understand it today; they documented the births of children to enslaved mothers as property, not as individuals. Over time, the information captured in birth records—particularly the recording of race, which began in the 1850s—has evolved significantly, reflecting shifting societal norms and values. These documents - which are held in the Municipal Library, Archives and Record Center - serve as a lens through which we can examine questions of identity, personhood, racism, and power across New York City’s history. Join us for a panel discussion, moderated by Acting City Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse, that brings together a distinguished group of experts in law, archives, and public health to explore the profound implications of New York City's birth records. Panelists, including Kenneth R. Cobb, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department of Records & Information Services; Muriel Silin, Senior Director of the Office of Quality Improvement at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bureau of Vital Statistics; Naomi Mezey, Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Law and Culture at Georgetown Law; and reproductive justice leader Chanel Porchia-Albert, will discuss how and why births have been documented over time, how racial categorization on birth certificates has changed, and the lasting legal and health consequences of these practices.