The lasting effects of the "Ugly Laws"

Dikembe Mutombo is a Congolese American retired professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the NBA. Other than basketball, he is well-known for his humanitarian work. He recently received the Sager Strong Award for his humanitarian efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

In 1997, the Biamba Marie Mutombo Foundation began plans to open a $29 million hospital in the outskirts of his hometown. When it opened in 2007, it became the first modern medical facility built in the area in nearly 40 years. 

Most recently, Mutombo flew a young boy from Congo with a large tumor on his face, who has been shunned by students at his school. 

On Instagram, Dikembe Mutombo said "This is just one of the good things that our Foundation is doing. We flew the young boy from CongoDRC with a large tumor on his face —who has been shunned by society to LA so he could be operated on by OSBORNE HEAD&NECK INSTITUTE." 


On social media or in the class room, the "Ugly Laws", which deemed it illegal for "any person, who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or deformed in any way, so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object, to expose himself to public view" still have damaging effects in society.