"THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS"

   

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

By: Rebecca Skloot

            

            In this painfully detailed account of the life, death, and immortality of an African American woman Henrietta Lacks, author Rebecca Skloot sheds light on an example of why the African American community is fearful of medical assistance. Henrietta Lacks was a woman suffering from cervical cancer. She attended Johns Hopkins hospital for her treatment. However, neither she nor her family was informed that a sample of her cells both from her cervix and cancerous tumor were taken and used for medical experimentation. Her cells created a scientific revolution within the medical realm because they allowed scientists to experiment on her disposable stolen cells.  Skloot exposes the mistreatment and malpractice of doctors and scientists in the 50’s and illustrates not only the physical suffering that Henrietta Lacks went through, but also the residual effects and anguish that her family had to endure. Remaining as residents in the inner city of Baltimore, MD the descendant of Henrietta Lacks have been plagued with poverty, poor health, violence, and all of this was spurred primarily because of not knowing what happened to their mother.

                In the science realm the cells stolen from Lacks were known simply as HeLa for the first two letters of her first and last name. Speculations over the years reported her name as Helen Lane, Henrietta Leaks, or some other random interpretation of who HeLa could stand for. The Lacks children were not informed of the use their mothers’ cells or the scientific revolution she assisted with. This book not only discusses the medical injustice that Henrietta endured but her oldest daughter Elise as well. Born with a mild mental disability as the result of her parents suffering from syphilis Elise was checked into Crownsville hospital for the Negro insane and after the death of her mother she died alone and forgotten at the age of 15. Skloot details the mission she and Lacks daughter Deborah to discover what happened not only to Henrietta’s cells but to Deborah’s big sister. This author masterfully and respectfully brings the reader into the lives of a family who have lived their entire life with the short end of the stick but still manages to maintain a strong sense of family and loyalty. This page turner will open the eyes of the reader and bring them into the world of medical conspiracy, faith, illegal medical experimentation, family, and truth. I recommend this to any and everyone to inform themselves on the history of where Western medicine has come from and the numerous unnamed subjects it used and mutilated in the name of science.  

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"BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE"

“Beautiful Struggle”

By: Ta-Nehisi Coates

                Baltimore native Ta-Nahensi Coates introduces the reader to a thoroughly written memoir depicting his life growing up in the inner city of Baltimore Maryland and the relationship between his father, brother, and himself. Opening the story with his brother ‘Big Bill’ getting jumped by a group of teenagers while the two of them are walking home from watching wrestling, Coates centers  his upbringing around the Afrocentric philosophies and practices of his father. He discusses value of knowledge and consciousness in his home. Coates describes his household as constantly active and full of energy, primarily because his father had 7 children by 4 women and it was considered a form of punishment to be sent to their father’s house for discipline. Only Coates and his youngest brother were permanent fixtures under their roof along with their parents. Growing up the goal was to eventually make it to Howard University which was referred to as ‘Mecca’, the ideology of his father was that once a boy turned 17 he had a one year grace period before he was on his own. Coates experience in Baltimore’s inner city was a conflicting dual of cultures that from a young age he had to learn to walk a fine line in the search of his own identity. From playing sports, to undergoing an African rite of passage, to discovering a passion for African drumming Coates explores the conflicts of being a young black man growing up during the crack era in one of the worst inner cities in the country and how he and his family came out victorious on the other side. This is a beautifully written piece with poetic language and honest passion. His is a story that is unique to most but skillfully illustrates that regardless of how you prepare for life, there are always unforeseen obstacles that emerge, however they can be overcome as well. I encourage anyone to go and check this out and support a local author. SO however you get it make sure you go out and Read a Book, Read a Book, Read a Book!!!!!

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Wrapped In Rainbows

“Wrapped in Rainbows, the Life of Zora Neal Hurston”

By: Valerie Boyd              

Author and journalist Valerie Boyd presents a detailed depiction of the colorful life of famous Harlem renaissance author Zora Neal Hurston. Starting from her all Black hometown of Eatonville Florida Hurston’s had never experienced true poverty until much later in her life as a struggling author. Instead as a child Hurston thrived from her imagination and open space to roam free. At a young age she lost her mother and never having a close relationship with her father Hurston was on her own, with the exception of minimal support from her siblings. Hurston’s was a life of mystery and flamboyance. Taking ten years off her age at 26 Ms. Hurston was able to re enter school under the guise of a teenager in order to pursue her goal of finishing school. Always being a free spirit Hurston realized that her purpose was not as a student in the classroom but instead as a student out in the field. Anthropology became her passion, and Southern Black folklore was her subject. Though Hurston is known best as a writing ‘Their eyes Were Watching God’, her enthusiasm came from collecting voodoo practices, ritual dances, children’s games, and stories. This book takes you from the rich streets of Harlem into the jungles of Haiti and Honduras to give a better grasp of this amazing woman and not just the contribution she gave to literature but the impression that she had on this world. Strengths in this book come from first-hand accounts and documentation from Hurston as well as her associates including Langston Hughes, Ethel Waters, and James Weldon Johnson.  I highly recommend it and I’m telling you guys to go out and read a book read a book read a book!!!

Wrapped In Rainbows

“Wrapped in Rainbows, the Life of Zora Neal Hurston”

By: Valerie Boyd              

Author and journalist Valerie Boyd presents a detailed depiction of the colorful life of famous Harlem renaissance author Zora Neal Hurston. Starting from her all Black hometown of Eatonville Florida Hurston’s had never experienced true poverty until much later in her life as a struggling author. Instead as a child Hurston thrived from her imagination and open space to roam free. At a young age she lost her mother and never having a close relationship with her father Hurston was on her own, with the exception of minimal support from her siblings. Hurston’s was a life of mystery and flamboyance. Taking ten years off her age at 26 Ms. Hurston was able to re enter school under the guise of a teenager in order to pursue her goal of finishing school. Always being a free spirit Hurston realized that her purpose was not as a student in the classroom but instead as a student out in the field. Anthropology became her passion, and Southern Black folklore was her subject. Though Hurston is known best as a writing ‘Their eyes Were Watching God’, her enthusiasm came from collecting voodoo practices, ritual dances, children’s games, and stories. This book takes you from the rich streets of Harlem into the jungles of Haiti and Honduras to give a better grasp of this amazing woman and not just the contribution she gave to literature but the impression that she had on this world. Strengths in this book come from first-hand accounts and documentation from Hurston as well as her associates including Langston Hughes, Ethel Waters, and James Weldon Johnson.  I highly recommend it and I’m telling you guys to go out and read a book read a book read a book!!!

LISTEN LIVE TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 4-7 MINDSTREAM RADIO WWW.M.ELITEDCRADIO.COM