Social Justice
Bill filed to posthumously award Henrietta Lacks the Congressional Gold Medal
At 31 years old Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
A Maryland Congressman has filed a bill to posthumously award Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells have pioneered tools in science.
Bill filed to honor Henrietta Lacks
Congressman Kweisi Mfume filed the bill Tuesday to have Lacks honored with a Congressional Award Medal.
At 31 years old, Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She died shortly after in 1951 at John Hopkins Hospital. On the day she died, researchers held a news conference announcing to the world they had discovered the first human immortal cell line.
Medical research
Lacks’ cells, entitled “HeLa cells,” were a medical revelation, reproducing at a high rate and capable of dividing numerous times without dying.
Henrietta Lacks cells became a revolutionary medical tool, used to develop the polio vaccine and advance treatments for cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, hemophilia and even the COVID vaccine. In addition to contributing to breakthroughs in cloning, in vitro fertilization, gene mapping, and many more functionalities.
Despite the revolutionary change her cells made, it was without Lacks or her family’s knowledge.
----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on X, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube
Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Rapper Young Scooter dies at 39 on his birthday
Authorities release cause of death for Kei’Mani Latigue
Singer Muni Long shares her journey with lupus
U.S. Virgin Islands announces the performance line-up for 2025 St. Thomas Carnival Village Featuring Kes the Band, Shabba Ranks, Pumpa, and Pressure Busspipe
Brothers from New Jersey killed in Philadelphia highway crash
- Neptune cop illegally used computer database to look up woman’s info then went her home
- Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions cancels conference in response to DEI Orders
- Long Branch native dies in car accident in New York
- Lakewood firefighter Qua’Dry Lyons passes away
- Police seek help finding Newark teen whose been missing nearly a month
-
News7 days agoSouth Carolina veteran dies on his birthday while saving 13-year-old boy from drowning
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoTwin brothers miss their flight to Boston, later found dead in Georgia mountains
-
Black And Missing7 days agoUpdate: The body of missing Ohio 13-year-old has been found; her father charged for her murder
-
Health & Wellness2 weeks ago21-year-old man becomes first in New York to be cured of sickle cell anemia
-
Education7 days agoTeacher ordered to remove inclusive signs from classroom; GoFundMe raises more than $15k
-
In Memoriam4 days agoBrothers from New Jersey killed in Philadelphia highway crash
-
Culture4 weeks agoAltadena family spanning generations lost 20 homes in Los Angeles wildfires
-
Black And Missing3 weeks agoBody of missing Georgia teacher found in lake