RACC 2011 QUESTION 5 (TWO PARTS)

Was Henrietta's cousin right when he shouted in the graveyard that Henrietta was still alive? Give examples from the book which illustrate your points and present a good argument for the position you take on this issue. Discuss the issues of Personal Identity and of Identity to decide whether, and in what sense, Henrietta is still alive.

What does Tuskegee Institute owe the Lacks family if anything? Cite examples from the book.

RACC 2011 Discussion Question 4

Based on the presentation of legal and ethical issues in the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, write a compelling argument to be presented to your US Representative or Senator on why he or she needs to author a bill in favor of giving citizens the right to control whether research is conducted on their medical waste (ie, blood sample remains, extracted tissue or organs, etc). Use facts from the book to support your position.

RACC 2011 Discussion Question 3

One thing that we must be aware of is cultural differences. We look at other cultures and are amazed or repelled by their behavior (In Afghanistan women were required to wear the burka, a head to toe covering of the entire body). We judge other cultures by our own behaviors in our culture. List one family (sex, dating, or marriage), custom that may be looked at differently today that we read about in the book. Can you think of another belief or practice (non family) that took place in the past, not done today?

Congratulations

Congratulations to Ms. Rolandrea Russell on having the most reasoned argument in response to question two.

RACC Discussion Question 2

Assume you are an attorney appointed/hired to defend Dr. Gey. While many of you have criticized Dr. Gey from a 21st century perspective of race, gender and class; you must now present arguments defending him in the context of his era (1940s and 1950s). Specify at least 3 points as the basis of your defense and provide zealous reasoned arguments in defending of Dr. Gey. **(I expect to hear from all of our future lawyers; you may partner up with no more than one other person (your co-counsel) to respond to the question---the DBS faculty will select what we feel was the best argument)** You must respond by Friday, Feb. 25 deadline.

RACC 2011 Discussion Question 1

RACC 2011 Discussion Question 1
After realizing the significance of Henrietta Lacks’ cells, Dr. Gey used the code name HeLa but deliberately mislead the public and her family saying that HeLa stood for Helen Lane. Dr Gey did this because he was concerned Henrietta’s family might sue over the use of her cells. Do you think Dr. Gey’s actions reflect the systematic mistreatment and discrimination of Africa-Americans by the US medical system and establishment? State your opinion and provide two sources of evidence to justify your position.

RACC 2011 Lecture/Discussion Agenda

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Department of Behavioral Sciences/CETL
(in partnership with the Learning Resources Center)

READING ACROSS THE CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY
RACC 2011

Lecture and Discussion Agenda
Selected Reading: Rebecca Skloot: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown/Random House. 2010
(Supplementary Reading: Harriet Washington. Medical Apartheid. Anchor Books, 2008)



RACC Online Discussion Blog Address: http://racc2011.blogspot.com
Second Life Display: Contact the Department of Behavioral Sciences
Blackboard url Information: http://bb9.aamu.edu (username: racc; password: 1234)

January 27: 12:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. LRC
RACC 2011 Kickoff / Film – The Way of All Flesh/Adam Curtis(Youtube)

February 3: 12:30 p.m. Drake Hall
Presentation/Student Discussion on: “Race and Medical Treatment, Research and Experimentation”
Presentation by Dr. Ronald L. Slaughter

February 10: 4:00 p.m. Hudson-Alpha On-Site Visit (Space Limited and Registration Required: Contact Dr. Ronald L.Slaughter)
Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology (601 Genome Way, Huntsville, AL 35806)
Presentation by Dr. Chris Gunter

February 24: 12:30 p.m. Drake Hall
Presentation/Student Discussion: “Family, Sex, and Incestuous Relationships: Change and Continuity in the American Family”
Presentation by Dr. Joseph Rosher

March 3: 12:30 p.m. Drake Hall
Presentation/Student Discussion: “Legal and Ethical Concerns”
Attorney Kimberly Carter Brown

March 24: 12:30 p.m. Drake Hall
Presentation/Student Discussion: “Philosophies of Identity, Death and Race”
Presentation by Ms. Diane Wilkinson

April 7: 12:30 p.m. Knight Center – CULMINATING EVENT
RACC 2011 Featured Lecture by Harriet A. Washington (Author of the book Medical Apartheid)