Henrietta Lacks, a Baltimore native, was one of the various groups of patients who unknowingly donated cells to Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951. Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cells, known as HeLa cells, have proven pivotal in countless scientific breakthroughs since their discovery that year.
Despite their critical role in advancing medical science, the cells were used non-consensually, unbeknownst to her or her family, leading to a long battle for justice and recognition. The Lacks family’s unwavering determination, supported by Attorney Ben Crump’s and his team’s legal efforts, resulted in a landmark settlement addressing the unethical exploitation of her cells.
The family of Henrietta Lacks and national civil rights attorney Ben Crump have been named recipients of “The Galveston International Juneteenth Museum’s Dr. Ronald Myers Legacy Award.” This prestigious award recognizes their historic legal victory for the unjust enrichment derived from Henrietta Lacks’ immortal cells. The award ceremony was held on the afternoon of June 26, 2024, at Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas.
The event was attended by prominent figures such as State Representative of Texas, District 147, Jolanda Jones; Commissioner Rodney Ellis; The Community of Faith Church, Senior Pastor Bishop James Dixon II; Southern University Law Center Professor Deleso A. Alford; Samuel Collins III; and oldest grandson of Henrietta Lacks, Ron Lacks, author of Henrietta Lacks: The Untold Story.
While this award is a tremendous success, it is paramount to remember that after 70 years of injustice, an award and financial compensation, no matter how handsome, is simply not enough to atone for the wrongdoings committed. Bishop James Dixon II emphasized this sentiment stating, “Whatever amount has been awarded to the Henrietta Lacks family is still not enough to atone for these sins!”
Southern University Law Center Professor Deleso A. Alford’s law review article written in 2012 for a classroom of both law and medical students, entitled “HeLa Cells and Unjust Enrichment in the Human Body,” served as a catalyst and theory of the case for world-renowned Civil Rights lawyers, Co-lead counsels Ben Crump, Christopher Seeger, and their legal teams.
Galveston International Juneteenth Museum board member and historian Samuel Collins III highlighted the significance of this award, stating, “The persistence of the Henrietta Lacks Family and the work of Attorney Ben Crump’s legal team to fight for genetic justice continues the legacy of the late Dr. Ronald Myers. Dr. Myers was a physician who worked in some of the poorest communities in Mississippi and was an advocate for a national Juneteenth holiday, but unfortunately died in 2018. The fight for absolute equality continues, and we are excited to award the first Dr. Ronald Myers Legacy Award to the Lacks family and Attorney Ben Crump in recognition of their historic legal victory for the unjust enrichment derived from her immortal cells.”
In an exclusive interview with Forward Times, Collins emphasized “Lighting the torch of the next generation because the more torches that are lit, the more the light will drive out darkness and ignorance.” He then went on to say, “It is important to tell the stories because many people are in the dark, so the brighter the room gets, stories about Dr. Myers, Henrietta Lacks, and so much more can be brought to the forefront.”
In 2010, Lacks’ story was told cover to cover in the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which was later adapted into the HBO film starring Oprah Winfrey as Deborah Lacks, the daughter of Henrietta. This true story centers around a woman’s search for enlightenment about her mother, whose cancer cells would save millions.
Lacks is being considered for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor. Until the award is hopefully issued, paying homage to the past by acknowledging the trials and traumas of our ancestors seems to be the most reputable course of action in this ongoing fight for justice, aiming to educate and inspire the next generation.
