The Greatest Showman movie is trash and I will not hear otherwise. Why? It skips over how P. T. Barnum became famous in the first place - by exploiting a enslaved, partially paralyzed Black woman named Joice Heth to launch his career (a thread) 
In 1835, Barnum "leased" Heth for his show for 10 months because outright purchase of enslaved persons was technically illegal where Barnum lived. However, this lease effectually gave Barnum legal property rights over Heth, despite his later claims about his distaste for slavery.
"I do further covenant, promise and agree that the possession of Joice Heth and the right of exhibiting her as aforesaid and all my Title and Interest in Joice Heth hereby transferred and delivered unto the said Phineas T. Barnum (and William P. Saunders)" - from 1835 contract
Barnum subjected Heth, who was quite elderly, to a grueling 12 hours a day, six days a week touring schedule. He exhibited her as the "161 year old nurse to George Washington", claiming she breastfed Washington and taught him spirituals
Barnum encouraged his audiences to physically inspect Heth, asking them to invade her body by feeling the depth of her wrinkles and taking her pulse as evidence of her advanced age.
Heth died while Barnum's contract was still in effect and he took advantage of this by staging a public autopsy "to confirm her age". He charged tickets for the event and 1,500 paying customers witnessed surgeon Dr. David Rogers further violate Heth's body by cutting her open
Barnum continued to capitalize on the violations of Heth's body after her death, selling false stories about her and their relationship to various newspapers
P. T. Barnum was a complicated figure, sure, but he is by no means someone who should be celebrated with a musical about how he rejoiced in "what makes us different". He was complicit in the captivity of people of color, the fetishization of disabilities, & other atrocities. End.
