The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a book and documentatry that I am itching to read and watch. The documentary, starring Oprah Winfrey, tells the incredible story about a poor, uneducated Black woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or consent. For 60+ years, her cancer cells have been credited with a number of breakthroughs in medicine and cures.
Henrietta’s cancer cells has helped saved the lives of millions of people because they were used and are still being used in research and other advancements in medicine. As amazing as all that sounds, we cannot forget that parts of Henrietta’s body, like so many other Black Americans years ago, was used to fund and advance the world of medicine without any acknowledgement, consent or monetary compensation. That is until now.
I cannot express to you how good it feels to know that such individuals are now being recognized for their contribution to medicine. Not only that, their living descendants have a BIG say so in how their loved one’s cells, body or tissues are being used. Adding to that, the family is rightfully being compensated.
Click here to watch a brief video on the late Henrietta Lacks and her incredible story.
Until next time…
