Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum By Antonia Hylton

"Madness" by Antonia Hylton unearths the buried history of Crownsville Hospital, a segregated asylum with a 93-year legacy. Situated in Maryland, Crownsville began in 1911 as the Hospital for the Negro Insane, constructing its foundation on the forced labor of twelve Black men. Antonia Hylton, a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist, intricately weaves together the institutional history with personal narratives, exposing the intersecting forces of racism, mental health, and societal upheaval.

The book transcends mere historical documentation, exploring the lives of patients and employees, revealing the profound impact of Crownsville on Black families and the broader African American experience. Hylton integrates her family's struggle with mental illness, fostering a deeply personal connection to the narrative. As the asylum grew from a work camp into a vast institution emblematic of America's battles over slavery, racial integration, and civil rights, it became a microcosm of societal shifts.

With almost 2,700 patients at its peak, Crownsville became entwined with the nation's evolving views on mental health, culminating in its decline and eventual eclipse by the focus on prisons. Hylton navigates the complex layers of secrecy and shame surrounding mental illness, drawing parallels between her family's experiences and those of the individuals confined within Crownsville's walls.

"Madness" serves as an evocative exploration of a segregated asylum's enduring legacy, unraveling the stories of resilience, struggle, and humanity that have long been obscured by silence and institutional neglect. Through meticulous research and heartfelt storytelling, Hylton illuminates a crucial chapter in Black history and the broader American narrative. 📖💖