Henrietta's Lacks
believe the public’s perception of Henrietta’s story in 1976 was appropriate and would have been viewed the same way in 1951.
The treatment of Black’s in the 1950s, was the reason why many perceived Henrietta’s story as an issue of race. During this time, African American were considered to be second class citizens. Racism against blacks was accepted. There was racial segregation meaning that blacks and whites were socially separated. Black people were not allowed to enjoy some of the same advances as non-Black people. Even some restaurants would provide separate eating quarters for Black people. They weren't allowed to take the same buses, attend the same movie theatres or even drink from the same water fountains. The 1950’s was a time in our history that Blacks were treated no different than animals on a farm. The 1950’s was also a time of war. Wars were going on between other countries as well between races. White Americans were determined to become the dominate race. No non-White person would be allowed to do the things they deemed to suitable for White’s only. For example, the arrest of Rosa Parks, a middle-aged black women, for refusing to give up her seat on the bus in 1955. The same years, the brutal beating of Emmet Till for allegedly whistling at a white woman in a grocery store. The issues of unfair treatment of Blacks could go on, and on. Whites fought against Blacks to suppress any form of equality. Whites fought against Blacks, to sit where you wanted on the bus. A fight to drink out of a fountain when you were thirsty. Fights which led to a growing group of Americans who spoke out against inequality and injustice during the 1950s. “For example, in 1954, in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, the Supreme Court declared that “separate educational facilities” for black children were “inherently unequal” (Prejudice). The Brown vs. Board of Education was a fight that started to deliver some form of equality. But it was not enough.
The treatment of Black’s in the 1950s, was the reason why many perceived Henrietta’s story as an issue of race. During this time, African American were considered to be second class citizens. Racism against blacks was accepted. There was racial segregation meaning that blacks and whites were socially separated. Black people were not allowed to enjoy some of the same advances as non-Black people. Even some restaurants would provide separate eating quarters for Black people. They weren't allowed to take the same buses, attend the same movie theatres or even drink from the same water fountains. The 1950’s was a time in our history that Blacks were treated no different than animals on a farm. The 1950’s was also a time of war. Wars were going on between other countries as well between races. White Americans were determined to become the dominate race. No non-White person would be allowed to do the things they deemed to suitable for White’s only. For example, the arrest of Rosa Parks, a middle-aged black women, for refusing to give up her seat on the bus in 1955. The same years, the brutal beating of Emmet Till for allegedly whistling at a white woman in a grocery store. The issues of unfair treatment of Blacks could go on, and on. Whites fought against Blacks to suppress any form of equality. Whites fought against Blacks, to sit where you wanted on the bus. A fight to drink out of a fountain when you were thirsty. Fights which led to a growing group of Americans who spoke out against inequality and injustice during the 1950s. “For example, in 1954, in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, the Supreme Court declared that “separate educational facilities” for black children were “inherently unequal” (Prejudice). The Brown vs. Board of Education was a fight that started to deliver some form of equality. But it was not enough.