American Experience Season 34 Episode 4 Plague at the Golden Gate

In "Plague at the Golden Gate," American Experience delves into the outbreak of bubonic plague in San Francisco in the early 20th century. The episode begins with the discovery of a dead rat infected with the disease in the city's Chinatown district in 1900, and quickly moves through the various efforts to contain and combat the epidemic.

Viewers are introduced to a cast of characters -- including public health officials, politicians, and concerned citizens -- who each play a role in the response to the outbreak. One such figure is Rupert Blue, the newly appointed federal Surgeon General, who arrives in San Francisco to assess the situation. Blue quickly realizes that the city's leadership is ill-equipped to handle the crisis, and becomes determined to take drastic measures to contain the disease.

Through archival footage and interviews with scholars and historians, the episode shines a light on the pervasive racism and xenophobia that shaped the public's response to the plague. As fear over the spread of the disease grew, many in San Francisco's white community blamed Chinese immigrants for the outbreak, and called for their forced removal and quarantine. This sentiment was bolstered by officials such as Dr. Joseph Kinyoun, who headed the federal laboratory in San Francisco and espoused eugenic theories about the supposed inherent weakness of Chinese immune systems.

Despite these challenges, the episode highlights the work of individuals and organizations who fought back against the plague and its accompanying prejudices. This includes Dr. Wu Lien-Teh, a Chinese physician who was called in to contain the outbreak in Manchuria and used his experiences to advocate for more humane responses to disease. Locally, organizations such as the Women's Board of the California State Board of Health and the San Francisco Red Cross played crucial roles in nursing the sick and containing the spread of the disease.

Throughout "Plague at the Golden Gate," American Experience balances a macro-level view of the politics and policies surrounding the plague with more intimate portraits of those affected by the epidemic. Viewers are introduced to the families of those who fell ill, as well as the doctors and nurses who risked their own lives to care for the sick. The episode also explores the broader social and economic effects of the outbreak, from the devastating impact on Chinatown businesses to the way it shaped public health policy across the country.

Overall, "Plague at the Golden Gate" offers a compelling look at a little-known chapter in American history, exploring the intersection of race, public health, and politics in the face of a deadly epidemic. It's a sobering reminder of the challenges we face in responding to health crises, and the importance of compassion and solidarity in times of crisis.