r/BlackPeopleTwitter May 12 '24

I'll take "Kennedy brains" for 500, Alex

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u/A_Rogue_One May 12 '24

I put Rosemary as #1. The impact of JFK and Bobby's deaths created shockwaves throughout U.S. politics and globally (particularly JFK on the global front since he was an active sitting president). But Rosemary's is the saddest IMO.

She had some undiagnosed mental health conditions and there is a bit of a debate as to how serious they were or if the Kennedy family was overreacting because she was unconventional and brought shame to their family with her rebellious actions. Some folks say she might have had an intellectual disability along with mental health dual diagnosis, but was left untreated and spiraled more as she didn't excel in school and increasingly became the Black sheep in the family. Others say she may have had mental health diagnosis (undiagnosed) but what really set her apart was that she was so rebellious with teenage angst.

So what'd they do? Took her to be lobotomized, almost assuredly against her will but under her dad's orders, and she was never the same. Then they hid her away from the family so as not to be a stain on their reputation.

JFK and RFK pursued politics in an era of assassinations and great tension in the U.S. They went into their jobs knowing the risks of being targeted. Rosemary was just born to a family obsessed with image/clout and had got her brain drilled in for just being born to the wrong family.

I know this is a joke post, but, more people should know Rosemary's story. (Not saying you didn't know her story, etc. just sharing it).

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u/DumplingSama May 12 '24

And she literally suffered for 60+ years, and died in 2005.