In 1958, during the Brussels World’s Fair, Expo 58 (one of the largest and most famous expositions of the 20th century, where the famous Atomium was built), a so-called “Congolese Village” (village indigène or Kongorama) was organized in the “Tropical Gardens” section dedicated to the Belgian Congo (then still a Belgian colony). Approximately 598 people were brought there from the Congo (273 men, 128 women, and 197 children—entire families). During the day, about 120 of them were displayed in the reconstructed “village” behind a bamboo fence, dressed in “traditional” clothing.
Expo 58 ran from April 17th to October 19th, 1958, but the “village” was closed early—already in July 1958 (about 2–3 months after opening). The reason: the Congolese people (many of whom were educated city dwellers, not the “primitive natives” they were positioned as) began openly protesting the humiliation. Visitors threw bananas and money at them, insulted them, and mocked them. The people refused to tolerate it, staging strikes and demanding proper treatment. As a result, the organizers (the Belgian Ministry of Colonies) were forced to send them back to the Congo ahead of schedule to avoid a scandal.
The “human zoo” with the Congolese operated at a time when humanity had already entered the space age. (Meaning: approximately 6 months and 13 days passed between the launch of Sputnik 1 and the opening of the exhibition.)
Zoos make me extremely sad. I understand the human zoo is another level of fucked up, but I do wonder if we will ever progress to the point where animals in tiny enclosures for our amusement is also some historical blemish on our species.
I have mixed feelings about zoos. The ones with tiny cages made just for ogling at animals just should not be allowed to exist. The ones which exist to support conservation, research, and educational efforts (and thereby go to lengths to ensure the animals are treated well) I think have a reasonable place in a reasonable society. Although, a reasonable society wouldn't be creating the conditions which make conservation efforts necessary, but here we are.
Go visit Chester Zoo, where the enclosures are so big that you often can't see the animals. It's deliberate, they want their animals to be able to hide.
Both zoos in Berlin are a fucking disgrace, though.