“Seventyyears. That’s how long it took to find justice for Henrietta Lacks andher family for the cells illegally harvested from her body. Today weacknowledge the impact of her ‘Immortal Life’ and the ‘HeLa Cells’ on globalhealth – as well as the countless lives their use have ultimately saved.
Yet weknow that finding justice means far more than just a day in the sun. It’salso not merely a tool to wield against those who have wronged andvictimized. In the words of Bernice King:
'Justiceand revenge are not the same thing. Justice is a continuum that includesaccountability, change toward preventing further injustice, strategic hope,etc.'
So,while we celebrate the life of Ms. Lacks with her family, we must foreverremain vigilant that further injustice is not perpetrated on futuregenerations. Henrietta Lacks must be remembered not just for her contributionto science, but also for her humanity. And, her legacy serves as a symbol forall who seek a free society and raise the standard of ethical practice.”