Immortal

Remembering Henrietta Lacks and the Cells That Changed the World

Henrietta Lacks 1920-1951

Hello, my Brothers and Sisters. I pray that this scribe finds you well. Speaking of wellness, the woman I will be presenting today has made a major contribution to the wellness that mankind benefits from till this day. When I was growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, her name was never in any of my science or history books, and even today, she isn’t well-known as she should be. Too many don’t know who she was or how she contributed to the successful medical stories of millions. Her name is Henrietta Lacks. If you are unfamiliar, let me introduce you.

Henrietta Lacks was a Black woman whose cancer cells became the first immortal human cell line, which is known as “HeLa”. This immortal human cell line has driven tens of thousands of medical breakthroughs. You may wonder why you have never heard of a woman who literally changed medical care and lives so drastically. Well, that is because they stole these cells. The cells known now as HeLa cells were taken without Henrietta Lacks’ consent in 1951. We know that many things were stolen from Blacks during slavery and after, and our beloved ancestor was also a victim of theft.

Henrietta Lacks was born August 1, 1920, in Roanoke, Virginia, and only lived to the age of 31. She died on October 4, 1951. She was a mother of five and a tobacco farmer at one time. She grew up modestly in Clover, Virginia and was raised by her grandfather. In early 1951 she sought treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital for severe cervical pain and bleeding.

Upon examination and testing, the doctors discovered she had an aggressive tumor and began radium treatments, which was the standard practice at the time. It was during one of these procedures that a surgeon stole two tissue samples from Ms. Lacks. He stole one that was cancerous and one that was healthy. In many things written, you will find words and phrases like “removed” taken out” and “extracted” to present this historical fact. However, it was indeed theft, because this was removed from her without her knowledge or consent. Even though slavery was over, even in the medical field, doctors felt they had the right over Black bodies, with no pause or accountability.

Even in theft, the medical breakthroughs cannot be denied, though knowledge and compensation to her family were denied for decades. The HeLa cells are the first immortalized human cell line. This means that these cells can divide indefinitely under the right conditions. This makes these cells invaluable for research. The HeLa cells have been used to: develop the polio vaccine, advance cancer research, support gene mapping and in vitro fertilization, study viruses, including HIV, and has even traveled on a space mission to study cell behavior in zero gravity. Yes, even though Henrietta Lacks never left Virginia personally, part of her had made it all the way to space

Henrietta and David Lacks

HeLa cells revolutionized biomedical science. Her contribution should have been sung from the rafters…but successful thieves know how to keep secrets. Her family was not told anything about the cell line until 1975. This was decades after researchers had already used and commercialized the harvested cells. They received no compensation, and her case eventually became a central example in debates about informed consent, medical ethics, and the exploitation of marginalized communities in research.

As more attention is paid to her story, books and movies would come out, giving more insight into her and her family’s ethical plight. Eventually, this exposure would spark a global conversation about patient rights. In 2013, the NIH reached an agreement giving her family limited control over access to the HeLa genetic data, marking a shift towards more ethical standards.

Also, Henrietta Lacks is now honored through schools, historical markers, and ongoing advocacy for equity in medical research. Her contribution changed the world as we know it and will continue to change and shape it. Not only did medical advancement happen, but laws were also changed, rights were restored and ethical debates happened that made a change for the future men, women and children who seek medical care.

Her story should be remembered, while not letting how things went down be our focal point. She should be celebrated for being a phenomenal Black woman. She makes me think of the power of the Black woman. It adds to the phrase “mother of civilization”. She is, in my opinion, in her own right, a mother to us all. They say it takes a village, so we can definitely have more than one mother, can’t we?

Thank you, Mother Henrietta Lacks, for your contribution to our people, near and far. May you be remembered for the phenomenal things that would not have happened without you. You are a blessing to many, and may we remember your name.