1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Introduction

2. Henrietta Lacks Lived from 1920-1951 Born Loretta Pleasant
Grew up on a tobacco plantation farm
Married first cousin Day Lacks
Passed away from cervical cancer
Cancer cell line is immortal

3. Rebecca Skloot Born in 1972 A freelance science writer
Learned of Henrietta Lacks in her bio class at Portland Community College
Has an MFA in creative nonfiction and bachelor’s in biology
Has taught creative writing and science journalism

4. HeLa Cells Oldest and most commonly used human cell line
Self multiply every 20 hours
More cells now than were ever in Lacks’ body
Assisted with creating vaccines such as polio
Still used and researched today

5. Medical Ethics
HeLa cells were taken without Lacks’ consent or knowledge
Her family was never informed nor compensated
Cells have been bought and sold for profit
Raises debate of ethics versus common good

6. Life in the 40’s Jim Crow laws were in effect
NAACP was founded in the forties
Many African Americans were taken advantage of
Resulted in a great migration to big urban cities