Literature Book Summary: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Question: In a perfect world, race, ethnicity and culture would have no negative effect on the medical care we receive. The effect is due to historical heritage more than skin color. What is meant by this statement? Historical heritage refers to the experiences of minority groups that shaped how they were viewed and treated. Minorities, such as African Americans, have histories that were determined by majorities and skewed by fabricated stories. In the article, Race Consciousness and the Health of African Americans , by Rosalyn J. Watts, Ed.D, RN, FAAN, she writes: "Inequalities about race are best reflected in slave narratives, historical records, and biographies which describe slaves as property rather than persons. Historians frequently reported the characterizations of black slaves as subhuman species with insatiable sexual appetites who lacked intelligence, feelings, and character." These inequalities and prejudices that started in the 1600s with the advent of ...
