Feb. 12, 2026

Henrietta Lacks — The Body That Built Modern Medicine

A single biopsy changed modern medicine—and revealed a fault line that still runs through healthcare today. We dive into the story of Henrietta Lacks, a young Black mother whose cervical tumor cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and became the first immortal human cell line, known as HeLa. Those cells powered the polio vaccine, advanced cancer research, informed gene mapping, and helped unlock IVF and HIV treatments. Yet the breakthroughs came with a moral debt: the Lacks family was left uninformed, uncompensated, and burdened with the weight of a legacy built without consent.

We recount Henrietta’s life and the moment her cells began dividing endlessly in a lab, then unpack how HeLa reshaped research by enabling standardized experiments across the world. From vaccine development to drug screening and space biology, HeLa’s impact reaches into clinics, classrooms, and our daily lives. Alongside that impact, we confront the systemic exploitation of Black patients that made such a discovery possible without permission, connecting Henrietta’s story to a wider history of medical racism and the roots of enduring mistrust in healthcare.

Together we face the hardest questions: Who owns a body once tissue leaves the patient? What counts as informed consent for biospecimens and genetic data? How should institutions and companies share benefits when entire industries grow from a person’s cells? We offer practical ideas for a more just future—dynamic consent, plain-language disclosures, community oversight, and real benefit sharing—so progress is not only measured by cures, but by dignity.

If this conversation moved you, help us keep it going: follow the show, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. And if you or someone you know is in crisis, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Your voice matters—join us and add yours.

DON'T FORGET TO RATE, COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE

JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY FOLLOWING THE LINKTREE

Follow Our Family Of True Crime Shows

The year I spent defending my best friend. The TRUTH is HERE

We Are Not Afraid Podcast

Extinguished With David McClam & LaDonna Humphrey

Musical Album

The Witch Hunt Of Lanny Hughes

Cover Art and Logo created by Diana of Other Worldly

Sound Mixing and editing by David McClam

Intro script by Sophie Wild From Fiverr & David McClam

Intro and outro jingle by Jacqueline G. (JacquieVoice) From Fiverr

Chapters

00:04 - Welcome And Mission

00:26 - Black History Month Focus

00:35 - Mental Health And 988 Lifeline

01:10 - Introducing Henrietta Lacks

01:46 - HeLa Cells Change Medicine

02:30 - Family Left In The Dark

03:09 - Systemic Exploitation And Ethics

04:39 - Reflections, Gratitude, And Closing

Transcript

WEBVTT

00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.560
Welcome to True Crime, authors and extraordinary people.

00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:12.320
The podcast where we bring two passions together.

00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:18.399
The show that gives new meaning to the old adage, truth is stranger than fiction.

00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:23.199
And reminding you that there is an extraordinary person in all of us.

00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:25.679
Here is your host, David McClam.

00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:26.719
What's good, everybody?

00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:33.039
Welcome to another show of True Crime, Authors and Strainary People, Black History Month Fact Edition.

00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.840
Of course, I'm your man, David McLam.

00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.039
If you guys haven't already, make sure you follow us all on our social media.

00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:44.320
One link to a link tree will get you every place you need to go pertaining to the show.

00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:53.840
And like I always like to remind you, if you are someone or you know someone who feels like creating themselves or someone else, please leave this episode on dial 988.

00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:58.640
It is a suicide prevention hotline that can get you the help that you need.

00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:06.319
And in case no one else has told you this today, let me be the first to tell you I do care, and I need you to be here.

00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:09.599
There is nothing worth your life.

00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:17.439
Alright, so we are back with the 12th Black History Fact, and I think we have a good one for you.

00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:22.079
This one is Henrietta Lax, the body that built modern medicine.

00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:25.359
Henrietta Lax never consented to change the world.

00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:35.760
She was a black woman born in 1920 in rural Virginia, raised on a tobacco farm, married young and eventually moved to Baltimore in search of opportunity.

00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:46.000
In 1951, she went to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the only place that would treat black patients at the time, complaining of severe pain and bleeding.

00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:56.480
Doctors found a malignant tumor on her cervix, and during treatment, without her knowledge or permission, cells from Henrietta's tumor were taken and sent to a laboratory.

00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.879
Those cells did something no human cells had ever done before.

00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.640
They kept dividing.

00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.000
They didn't die.

00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.319
They replicated endlessly.

00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.439
They became known as helicells.

00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:12.240
Those cells revolutionized medicine.

00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:15.199
They were used to develop the polio vaccine.

00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:23.120
They advanced cancer research, gene mapping, IVF, HIV treatment, and countless other breakthroughs.

00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.199
They were shipped around the world.

00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:29.840
They were bought, sold, patented, and profited from.

00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:34.319
Henrietta Lax died that same year at just 31 years old.

00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:36.639
Her family was never informed.

00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:38.479
They never consented.

00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:41.280
They never received compensation.

00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:46.319
For decades, didn't even know what had been taken from her body.

00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:57.520
While pharmaceutical companies made billions, Henrietta's children lived in poverty, struggled to access health care and carried generational trauma rooted in medical betrayal.

00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:08.800
While pharmaceutical companies made billions, Henrietta's children lived in poverty, struggled to access health care, and carried generational trauma rooted in medical betrayal.

00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:10.719
This was not an accident.

00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:15.840
It was part of a system that viewed black bodies as resources rather than people.

00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.400
Tuskegee watched black men die.

00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:22.159
Henrietta Lax was harvested while alive.

00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.400
The ethical question raised by her story are still unresolved.

00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:28.080
Who owns the body?

00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.400
Who owns biological data?

00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:35.039
Who benefits from medical progress and who pays the price?

00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:38.240
Henrietta Lax was not a volunteer.

00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:43.680
She was a patient, and her humanity was secondary to her usefulness.

00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.599
When people talk about medical mistrust, this is why.

00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:51.599
Not rumor, not paranoia, history.

00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:55.280
Henrietta did not choose immortality.

00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:57.919
It was taken from her.

00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:10.879
So once again, we have a tale of why black people, especially a lot of black women, does not trust doctors and medical treatments and clinics.

00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:17.040
This is why I always say too, when people say that black people's lives don't matter and we didn't contribute anything.

00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:24.000
Well, not only did we build your country, but as you can see here, we've also touched your life.

00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:49.120
Because the cells from Henrietta Lack's body that was sent to a lab without her knowledge or consent is the only reason why those treatments exist.

00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.480
Alright, guys, I thank you for joining us for this one.

00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:57.519
I know you have many choices in True Common Interview Podcast.

00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.399
I am grateful that I am one of your choices.

00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:05.519
And remember that you have been listening to the only three-faceted podcast of its kind.

00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.800
Be good to yourself and each other.

00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.879
And always remember, always stay humbled.

00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:16.000
An act of kindness can make someone's day.

00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:18.959
A little love and compassion can go a long way.

00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.759
And remember that there is an extraordinary person in all of us.

00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.160
I'll catch you on the next one.

00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:32.480
Don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe.

00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:34.160
Join us on social media.

00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:36.639
One link to the Link Tree has it all.

00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:41.680
Feel free to drop us a line at TrueCrime and Authors at gmail.com.

00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:44.639
Sound mixing and editing by David McLam.

00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:48.240
Intro script by Sophie Wilde and David McLam.

00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:52.000
Theme Music Legendary by New Alchemist.

00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.360
Introduction and Ending Credits by Jackie Voice.

00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:00.879
See you next time on True Crime Authors and Extraordinary People.