Reading this was very enlightening and very upsetting. Mental health is a topic not covered well even now, but back when Crownsville was operating, it was way worse. This was especially true with how the evolving field dealt with and handled black patients. It’s a hard read but an important one. As someone who struggles with severe mental illness myself, I had great empathy for those spoken about in this story. The added layer of race is not something I can understand on a personal level, but the book did an excellent job painting the picture clearly. You’ll fully grasp the concept of this asylum, how it worked, how it failed, and the impacts it had on staff, patients, and the black community. This is a must read for anyone who wishes to better understand history from both a mental health standpoint and a black perspective. Both topics are very worthy of your time and attention.