February 4, 2015 STAFF/STU

Your Daily Dose of Black History: Sarah “Saartjie” Baartman

The “Hottentot Venus” aka Sarah “Saartjie” Baartman, was a woman who was possibly a slave of Dutch settlers in what is now South Africa. As a result of her body shape, she was placed on display at circus freak shows across Europe. It has been rumored that she was one of two Khoi women who were taken from their native lands to perform for white audiences.