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Summary: The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

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In "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot, the progression of the plot and its central conflicts can be thoroughly understood through the perspective of racism, which includes systemic injustice, medical abuse, cultural mistrust, and racial discrimination. Despite the widespread use of HeLa cells in research and the advancements in the field of medicine, there was no acknowledgment of Henrietta or her pivotal role in the public. The fact that Henrietta was not mentioned in the news and that Gey did not mention her name on TV further highlighted how her identity was erased from the story of HeLa, “Despite the spread of HeLa and the flurry of new research that followed, there were no news stories about the birth of the amazing …show more content…

Skloot talks about how racism affects the story's plot and main issues, especially in light of Henrietta Lacks's important role in the creation of HeLa cells and her lack of recognition. Skloot states this to provide an understanding of how racism affects the story, influencing the treatment of Henrietta Lacks and the exploitation of her cells. By emphasizing how Henrietta's identity was ignored and erased from the HeLa story, Skloot draws attention to the systematic inequalities and racism that serve as the foundation for the plot and main conflicts of the book. Furthermore, racial discrimination is shown with Henrietta and all African Americans trying to get the best treatment from a primarily white hospital. Segregation laws require the separation of black and white individuals in various aspects of life, including healthcare facilities, “Especially black patients in public wards. This was 1951 in Baltimore, segregation was law, and it was understood that black people didn't question white people's professional judgment. Many black patients were just glad to be getting treatment since discrimination in hospitals was widespread” (Skloot

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