Had you heard of methemoglobinemia or the Blue People of Kentucky before?

Had you heard of methemoglobinemia or the Blue People of Kentucky before reading about them in Richardson's work?

I had not heard of methemoglobin or the Blue People of Kentucky prior to reading about them in Richardson’s work.

I’m a fan of historical fiction and especially when learning a fact or two that I hadn’t known about. After reading her first book I did a bit of research on the Blue People.

No, not before reading Richardson. I was fascinated to learn about the subject along with Cussy in the first novel.

no, not before reading these two novels, and I spent some time online right after looking more into it!

My first info was from the first book. I, too, spent some time online after finishing The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (first book) researching about the Blue People.

My answer to the question asked is: No. I had not heard of either the blood condition called methemoglobinemia or the Blue People of Kentucky prior to reading the Richardson’s initial The Book Woman.

As a result of that prior ignorance about the existence of the Blue People, I also was totally unaware of the prejudice against them by both the white and the black population of Kentucky. After reading Richardson’s initial book, I surfed the web to learn more about the Blue people and saw some pictures of their skin color and to me it looked more like an alien than a natural skin color of a human So, I believe that if I had had occasion to see or meet a Blue person, I would probably have avoided any contact with such a person – but out of fear rather than a result of a prejudice against them.

No. Never. I found the subject fascinating and, like others, searched the web for more information. This book led to lively discussions in our book club as we pooled our research. It’s always excellent when a historical fiction gives some hitherto unknown but true new information.

Yes, there is a man in our town who is blue. I didn't realize the history of these people though

Before reading the first book, I had not heard of it. A search on Goggle showed a short video of a doctor who developed a dye. It was injected and returned the skin color to a normal color.

No, I only learned about it after reading the two novels by Richardson. At first I believed it to be a fictional disease but further research proved me wrong.

jiil: I had understood that there were no known blue people existing today. It would be interesting to know why this individual remains blue when there is a correction available,

I hadn't heard of the condition before reading the first book, either. I was kind of stunned, really, and couldn't believe what the author was writing. ("Oh, this can't be real...") Sure enough, though, Wikipedia educated me.

vam: I truly have no idea, I don't know him personally. I have waited on him at the library.

No, I had not heard of the blue people before reading the 1st book. It was sad that the people were so discriminated against. I also researched online to learn more.

I hadn’t heard of it but the bias doesn’t surprise me. Anything out of the ordinary was feared and abandoned. As we learn the scientific reasons for a condition we become less fearful. Thanks to the doctors and scientist that studied this disease and treated it.

No, I hadn’t heard of it but the fear and suspicion of anything out of the ordinary doesn’t surprise me. I am glad that doctors and scientists got to the root causes of the problem and were able to treat it.

I was unfamiliar with methemoglobinemia until I read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Then I did some reading on my own and also talked with a friend who teaches biology in college. She gave me additional insights.

I had not heard of it before, but this just illustrates another form of discrimination against people who look different.

I worked in a hospital for 42 years before retiring; not as a nurse, but in health information management. quality management, and risk management so I know medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and pathology very well and had never heard of it. I 've asked several nurse friends and none had heard of it either.

I can see why; the individuals with it were so discriminated against, they went "underground" in order to survive.

Had not heard of it and my husband worked as a medical technologist for over 50 years and I was also a trained med tech and worked in the field for several years.

Yes. I mentioned that I had traveled a lot as a child - my dad was an iron worker and we traveled for his work. Often we stayed in some pretty poor places since it would only be a week or two at a time. We stayed in some back woods areas of Kentucky and Tennessee. There were pockets of Blue Skinned people in the late 50's and early 60's. I think by then - at least in those areas - they were accepted within the communities. If not accepted, at least tolerated to come and go as they pleased. I saw and was exposed to many things at that time, so I was not shocked or outraged to see them or by their appearance. I don't remember knowing a child, only seeing them. I never knew the formal name for their disorder until Richards' books.