Confronting History, Building Equity: The Journey of Crownsville State Hospital Is Also A Path to Healing
This brief summary touches on the history of the Crownsville Hospital. Links for more accounts and details are below.
Crownsville State Hospital in Maryland is steeped in a century-long narrative of systemic racism. Established in 1910 as the hospital for the Negro Insane, it functioned as a segregated mental health institution, relying on the exploitation of patients as free labor, including building the campus and growing food. Decades of mistreatment, neglect, and experimentation on black patients persisted until 1948 when the hiring of the first black psychologist marked a shift. The hospital's legacy includes over 1700 unmarked gravesites of black patients, a practice that ceased with integration in the 1960s. The facility closed in 2004 due to funding cuts, overcrowding, and a history of mistreatment, serving as a poignant reminder of enduring systemic racism in the U.S. healthcare system.
This history presents an opportunity for local and state governments to confront past injustices, fostering awareness, accountability, and initiatives that promote equity and justice in mental healthcare. Beyond mental health treatment, the future of the land holds the potential for a holistic approach addressing environmental, physical, economic, occupational, creative, and social health for the broader community. Emphasis must be placed on the voices and needs of historically marginalized communities, like the original patients of the hospital, recognizing that without equitable considerations, racial health disparities will persist and escalate.
In December 2022, the property's ownership transitioned from the state to the county, officially designated as the Crownsville Memorial Park and placed under the administration of Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation. As of March 2024, the county continues to welcome public suggestions for the park's future. As community members, it is essential for us to hold our elected officials accountable, advocating for transparency and equity in involving the Black community in the decision-making process. By uniting, we share the responsibility of remaining vigilant to ensure that our voices are genuinely heard and valued throughout the ongoing process, election cycle, and beyond.