The relationship between race and science has a long history that’s important for us to explore. Historically, members of the scientific and medical communities used false ideas about race to justify colonialism and slavery. Other members took advantage of racially marginalized groups to further medical research. This history has contributed to inequalities in health care that persist today. In this pathway, we explore these aspects of our history. We look at the impact of events such as slavery, the US Civil War, and infectious disease epidemics on the health of racially marginalized groups. We also examine the mistreatment of racially marginalized groups in medical research. By doing so, we can avoid further instances of racial discrimination in modern science and medicine, and address the health inequalities that this history has contributed to. This pathway forms part of the Racism as a Public Health Crisis cluster. See our equity pledge as part of this initiative. Please note: This pathway contains sensitive content related to racial violence and discrimination.