Unveiling the Truth: Is the Famous Alien Abduction Story Actually a Reflection of Racism?

This story was featured in CNN's Race Deconstructed newsletter this week. Sign up for free to read more.

A voice filled with fear can be heard, characterized by a sudden gasp, a stutter, or a suppressed scream. And then there is the sound of sheer terror, when an adult completely loses their composure, crying and gasping for air like a child confronted with their greatest fear.

Bill Nelson, the Administrator of NASA, addressed a NASA press briefing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC, on September 14, 2023. In an effort to shed light on the origins of numerous perplexing sightings, NASA conducted its inaugural public meeting on UAPs in May, urging a more rigorous scientific approach. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Independent group of experts and scientists releases 33-page report on UFOs

The fragment can be rewritten as follows:

Recording in his office one day in 1964, a psychiatrist captured the sound of unimaginable terror when he put a man named Barney Hill under hypnosis. Barney Hill, a World War II veteran, possessed a commanding presence with a deep, Darth Vader-like voice and an exceptional IQ of 140.

However, when the psychiatrist prompted Barney to relive a fateful night three years earlier, he found himself overwhelmed by hysterical sobbing. According to Barney, he and his wife, Betty, were trailed by a mysterious light while driving along a desolate highway in the mountains of New Hampshire. They were subsequently abducted by humanoid creatures in a UFO and subjected to medical examinations against their will.

The Hill's account, which was turned into a best-selling book and a movie featuring James Earl Jones, has been widely regarded as the most famous UFO abduction story. Historians have even referred to the couple as the originators of alien abduction tales. However, a new book argues that the focus of the story is not aliens, but rather race. According to historian Matthew Bowman in "The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America," the Hills, who were an interracial couple and civil rights activists, shared a narrative that expressed their growing disappointment with the slow progress of the civil rights movement.

As Halloween approaches in America, Bowman's book introduces a surprising racial aspect to the well-known tale. He and other experts have reimagined it as a haunting narrative depicting the unsettling presence of racism throughout American history.

Estelle Parsons and James Earl Jones in a scene from "The UFO Incident," a 1975 television movie based on the Hills' alleged encounter.

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Bowman mentioned in a recent interview that the challenges Barney Hills faced with racism as an African American man in the mid-20th century played a significant role in this particular incident. At the time of his alleged abduction, Hill was an active figure in the NAACP in New Hampshire, while his spouse, who was Caucasian, contributed as a civil rights activist and a social worker.

Images provided by Jon Elswick/AP and Scott Olson/Getty Images showcase containers of Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts and Monopoly games made by Parker Brothers, a subsidiary of Hasbro, at various locations.

Scientists are unable to provide a clear explanation for the Mandela Effect, which is characterized by the presence of collective false memories. In a recent interview, Bowman noted that when Barney Hill was hypnotized and recalled his memories, his language exhibited a strong fear of racial persecution. Both Hills remembered the encounter while under hypnosis, but Barney Hill became overwhelmed with terror as he relived the event. At one distressing moment, he broke down in tears, expressing his fear and asking, "What is it?... I'm genuinely frightened!"

The Hills' story revolutionized the perception of alien encounters, disrupting the previously prevalent depiction of friendly interactions with UFOs and extraterrestrial beings. Unlike the noble and wise alien visitor depicted in the popular 1951 film "The Day the Earth Stood Still," the Hills introduced a terrifying aspect to these accounts. They included chilling details such as gray-skinned aliens with oversized heads and ominous black eyes, instances of lost time, and invasive medical examinations. These haunting elements went on to become iconic features in films such as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and television shows like "The X-Files."

Barney Hill holds up a diagram as he and Betty Hill describe their experience.

The racial aspect of the Hills story was consistently apparent, according to some observers, indicating that it mirrored their hidden fears. The year that Hill underwent hypnosis was 1964, a period characterized by racial and Cold War tensions in the United States.

"You had a biracial couple at a time when being a biracial couple was undoubtedly challenging," stated Christopher Bader, a sociology professor at Chapman University in California. "The couple consisted of individuals who were a combination of black and white, and I find that to be incredibly significant."

Another writer compared the couple's story to that of a gothic horror novel. "The narrative aligns perfectly with the Western literary tradition. It possesses elements of a dark night, ghostly apparitions, and an underlying sense of sexuality, all of which are characteristic of Victorian gothic literature. Additionally, it echoes the common theme in Western folklore of being spirited away and ravished by a supernatural being," explained Margalit Fox in an essay for The New York Times.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, "Watchmen"

Mark Hill/HBO

Black characters and stories are finally in the sci-fi and horror spotlight. Its been a long time coming for fans

Despite skepticism from scientists, the Hills remained unwavering in their account. Barney Hill passed away in 1969 due to a stroke, while Betty Hill persisted in asserting the authenticity of their abduction until her own death in 2004.

Over time, their narrative may transition from being recognized solely as a UFO abduction tale to being associated with a different genre, specifically horror. This shift is evident in movies such as "Candyman" and "Get Out," which explore and exploit racial anxieties.

These movies portray a familiar experience to Barney Hill and other individuals of color: the ability to elicit terror in others simply because they perceive you as different or foreign. John Blake is the writer of "More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Uncoverd About the White Mother He Never Knew."