Browsing: “I can think of no better present on what would have been Henrietta Lacks’ 103 birthday than to give some measure of respect  for Henrietta Lacks

     On August 1, 1920, Henrietta Lacks was born as Loretta Pleasant in Roanoke, Virginia. This year will mark 104 years since she was born and her family’s over 70 year pursuit of justice for the taking of her cells without consent, (now widely known as ‘HeLa’ cells- scientists’ intentional efforts to hide her human existence by only referencing the first two letters of her first name -Henrietta (“He”) and the last two letters of her last name- Lacks (“La”).