Son of Henrietta Lacks to Speak, Answer Questions
David "Sonny" Lacks, son of Henrietta
Lacks, will speak at the College on
February 12.Saint Mary’s College is proud to welcome David "Sonny" Lacks, son of Henrietta Lacks to the College for a speaking engagement and question-and-answer session on Tuesday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Carroll Auditorium, Madeleva Hall. Lacks will talk about the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and how the revelation of his mother's contributions to medicine affected the family. Click for ticket information at moreaucenter.com. Click to download a campus map.
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is a non-fiction narrative about a poor black tobacco farmer whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951. The fast reproducing cells, known by scientists as HeLa for Henrietta Lacks’ first and last names, became one of the most important tools in modern medicine. HeLa cells were used in the development of the polio vaccine, gene mapping, and more. The cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t afford health insurance.