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.
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Teacher known for viral decor helps college students
California man in jail awaiting trial files lawsuit claiming deputies left him paralyzed
Karmelo Anthony’s family speaks out : “The truth will come out”
Walmart employee shoots multiple co-workers
GoFundMe for Kyren Lacy raises nearly $30k to support his loved ones
New Jersey mother says 2-year-old daughter was missing a braid when she picked her up from day care
South Carolina veteran dies on his birthday while saving 13-year-old boy from drowning
Update: The body of missing Ohio 13-year-old has been found; her father charged for her murder
Authorities release cause of death for Kei’Mani Latigue
Walmart employee shoots multiple co-workers
Aisha Bowe : from community college to rocket scientist on all-female space flight
Singer Elle Winston shares acoustic performance of “Young Royals”
Mother knows best is put to the test in OWN’s new love & relationship series ‘#Somebody’s Son
Jonathan Majors returns to the big screen for sports drama Magazine Dreams
GODFATHER OF HARLEM Season 4 starring Forest Whitaker premieres April 13
- 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
-
New Jersey1 week agoNew Jersey mother says 2-year-old daughter was missing a braid when she picked her up from day care
-
News4 weeks agoSouth Carolina veteran dies on his birthday while saving 13-year-old boy from drowning
-
Black And Missing4 weeks agoUpdate: The body of missing Ohio 13-year-old has been found; her father charged for her murder
-
Crime & Justice3 weeks agoAuthorities release cause of death for Kei’Mani Latigue
-
Crime & Justice3 days agoWalmart employee shoots multiple co-workers
-
Social Justice20 hours agoCalifornia man in jail awaiting trial files lawsuit claiming deputies left him paralyzed
-
Crime & Justice4 days agoMother and teen daughter fatally shot inside their New Jersey home
-
Education4 weeks agoTeacher ordered to remove inclusive signs from classroom; GoFundMe raises more than $15k to support diversity and inclusion