The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment began in 1932, when the Public Health Service started working with the Tuskegee Institute to study the effects of syphilis on the human body. However, the nearly 400 poor black men who participated in the study were never informed they even had syphilis nor were they treated for it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the men were told they were being treated for “bad blood”, a local term used to describe several illnesses, including syphilis, anemia and fatigue. In exchange for their participation, the men were given free medical exams, free meals and free burial insurance. Although originally projected to last 6 months, the study went on for 40 years.
Dr. Taliaferro Clark is credited with the origin of the study after he suggested the racial variation in the effects of syphilis so that Southern legislators would increase funding for treatment programs. Clark believed Macon County would be the perfect location for the study as it had one of the highest rates of syphilis in the nation.
Tuskegee Institute agreed to support the study if it received “its full share of the credit” and black professionals were involved. Dr. Eugene Dibble, and nurse Eunice Rivers, who both worked at John Andrew Hospital at the Tuskegee Institute, were recruited.
Following Clark’s retirement, Dr. Raymond H. Vonderlehr was appointed director of the research program. Instead of studying syphilis during a defined period of time in the population, as Clark had proposed, he decided that the study would continue until all the men died and their bodies could be examined.
At the beginning of the study, there was no proven treatment for syphilis. Even after penicillin became a standard cure for the disease in 1947, the medicine was withheld from the men so scientists could continue to study how the disease spreads and kills. With the assistance of local and government health officials, Tuskegee Institute, physicians and draft boards, the men were never to be treated.
The experiment went on for four decades, until Peter Buxtun, a social worker and epidemiologist, leaked the story to the media. By then, dozens of the men had died, and many wives and children had been infected. In 1973, a class-action lawsuit was filed, awarding a $9 million settlement to be divided among the study’s participants and free health care to be given to survivors, infected wives, widows and children.
In 1997, President Bill Clinton formally apologized for the unethical study, saying what the government had done was deeply, profoundly and morally wrong:
“To the survivors, to the wives and family members, the children and the grandchildren, I say what you know: No power on Earth can give you back the lives lost, the pain suffered, the years of internal torment and anguish.
What was done cannot be undone. But we can end the silence. We can stop turning our heads away. We can look at you in the eye and finally say, on behalf of the American people: what the United States government did was shameful.
And I am sorry.”
Ernest Hendon, the last living survivor of the study, died Jan. 16, 2004. He was 96.
VIDEOS ABOUT ‘THE TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS EXPERIMENT’
That whole thing was just wrong on so many levels.
LMAO @ the look on the face of the white dude holding the syringe. He should be the poster child for white people and their agenda worldwide.
wow .. and smh
Unfortunately this is still goin on today except now it’s called hip-hop.
p.s. I DON’T TRUST THE SWINE FLU SHOT!
Now days black people are just straight up ignorant, even after history of blacks being experimented, spit and beat on.
NOTHING NEW HERE!!! HISTORY HAS ALREADY REPEATED ITSELF, DOC’S ARE GIVING BLACKS AIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA!!!
This is one of the reasons why WPs & the government can’t be trusted. There is always a motive or hidden agenda behind something. Just mentally corrupt since the beginning of time!!
My day was going good, yall bout to get me upset!
Ahhh, Kiddo! Me either…there are hella kids on my campus with swine flu. I hear everybody will soon be required to get the shot But I refuse. I just have a really bad vibe about the whole thing for some reason.
Anywho- I’ve heard of the Tuskegee Experiment before and even now I’m shaking my head- how God awful and wreckless and careless…and all of those horrible things. Umm, reasons like this I kinda just don’t trust the government.
….and ppl still think they can trust the gov’t..smh!
this a damn shame and angers me to highest extent.
It is sad that after so much pain and turmoil racism is still alive and kicking it goes from a senator being outwardly racist and disrespectful to the undercover racism in cooperate America and other places of employment why is America such a sad place just because of the hue of someone’s skin tone, how sad……
rigshit…
you see “syphillis experiment..”..right?
they damn well knew the effects ..thats how you know that all of theses STDs are bogus and have been made in labs…i bet that there was no damn syphillis rate in that town before but becuase it was a small town, mostly lived in by black people, it was the perfect place to do this ‘experiment’…
those poor people…
Everytime I hear/read about this story it reassures me of the evil intent in some people. May God bless their surely damned and condemned souls.
So Wrong…There’s a Movie About It With Laurence Fishburne & Alfre woodward.
wow! its a shame how uneducated i was on this. 40 years??????? wow.. just wow
This was a shame…and this experiment is the reason why I won’t and don’t get “flu shots”.
this is sick but I’m not shocked none the less. The Gov’t smh. Like #1 said this is wrong on so many levels
The United States Government has perpetrated many inhumane offenses on African Americans to include:
The Port of Chicago Incident ( Naval Court-Marshall of Black sailors)
Black Wallstreet Massacre (Tulsa , Ok.)
The “trail of tears” death march (Relocation of Black Indian tribes to Ok.)
the infiltration and destruction of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.
The United States has always looked at Afrikans as “sub-human/chattle” and it is evidenced by the “2/3 of a man” reference in the U.S. Constitution. (Yes, it’s still in there)
Blacks have earned the full rights of citizens of the United States by virtue of the fact that Blacks have fought and died (with unequalled bravery) in every war ever fought in this country under the stars and stripes! Yet, we are noted for the worst healthcare standards and early deaths in America. Does anybody know the numbers on the percentage of Black war veterans that are amoung the homeless ranks in America? I dare say ….”lots.”
The even that opened my eyes about what the American Government really thought about black people was hurricane Katrina. The way that was handled showed me all I really needed to know about what they think about black people here.
Kanye West was right, “The governemnt don’t care about Black people!”
These experiments in Tuskegee only further serve to confirm that belief.
@ 14. That’s not the same thing. That movie is about ‘The Tuskegee Airmen Experiment’
I had no idea. Great coverage.
@Angel Oh Ok, Thanks
This is one of many blotches on our American history. It’s a sad shame that issues such as these are still happening today not just in the U.S., but all over the world. Our government has always been shady; I don’t trust them.
everytime i see this it hurts my soul and tarnishes my faith in this country!!!! God have mercy on us!
I thought about that movie too when I read the part about bad blood so that was a totally different experiment…thanks for the knowledge I missed the history post…
This is why a lot of black men don’t go to the doctors today.
Historic Reminder – Thank You – Be ENVIED Black MEN.
@ 19 no they are right there is a movie about this starring them called Miss Evers Boys
As a student at Tuskegee University its great to see this spotlighted. A lot people don’t know about this (including on campus) so its great to see something educational on the blog from time to time.
Yea “EXPERIMENT” MY ASS!
They were testing on people or just giving to them, callin that shyt studying for the diesease. Yea alrite.
People better wake up! They be doing shyt under your nose and you if you ain’t to smart to read between the lines and think out the box they gonna get your ass too!
Protect your self espically with that Swine Flu( knock, knock)
Natural Herbs, Jucies, Be Healthy,. Be Safe.
am out.
i remember reading about this…
this is the same exact reason why blacks are very suspicious of so called vaccinations now
Glad u guys posted this up, i did a term paper on this during undergrad 4 my psych class! it was simply SICK all across the board
It seems like every step we take “they” think of a way to push us back i.e. LIE!! I bet there are still some type of “experiments” going on that we don’t know about. I don’t put anything past the US Government anymore. They will do whatever they have to do BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Bush or Cheney anyone?
Get good Cl! Features like this is what set you apart from the other Blogs ….
@ 21 & 27. I stand corrected. I assumed she was talking about the Airman movie. Didn’t realize that Laurence Fishburne starred in both films. Completely forgot about ‘Miss Evers Boys’
OUTRAGED!!!!
LACY I totally agree with that you on that one…
Of course it goes on today.
That’s why you better listen to your President. He said it last night.
The whole healthcare system is a scam. Dr’s are paid to misdiagnose or not to diagnos at all. The healthcare system is a billion dollar business.
The healthcare opposers dont want change b/c its less money in their pockets. The will be held accountable under a govt sponsored hc system.
Dr.’s get kickbacks from the medicines they prescribe and from all the referrals they give to other dr.’s. it’s a business.
the only way to become aware is to become educated.
The U.S. govt always will treat blacks as second class citizens, this should not be a n eye opener to any one who knows their history!
Trailblaza you said it perfectly. This was very sickening to read, that is why we always got to keep ourselves aware and educated.
Good post.
Now, if people can leave over 100 replies about nothing regarding a Ciara pap shot, this education piece should attract even more attention.
* You all should know that the new H1N1 flu vaccine comes in a nasal spray, as well as in needle form — Get you doctor to give you the nasal spray version.
(They did a news story of this on CNN last week)
* You all need to know that testing for AIDS can now be done without getting blood drawn with a needle. Doctors can now use a large q-tip to swab the gums in your mouth, and test that swab to find out if you have HIV, or AIDS. Ask you doctor to swab your gums to test for HIV, and AIDS.
(By the way, a black doctor showed a demonstration of this gum swabbing method on BET’s 106 and Park show , a few months ago. It is just as accurate as getting blood drawn with a needle – so ask you doctor about the swab test for HIV and AIDS )
Oh my word! PEACEKEEPER!
I was just saying the same damn thing!
who gives a shit about what kind of nail polish Ri Ri has on!
Do you see how blacks get the tail end of the stick! this is why!
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER PEOPLE, WAKE UP!
It is well known that our government has done some shady things to people of color in the past but what do we do about it? Sit around, shake our heads and complain or take action. Our destiny is in our hand people, take control of it!
sh#ts disgusting.. Im a black man from london england so this is the first time iv heard of this.. And i have to admit my eyes became moist whilst readin that article smh
This is why i love Concreteloop! I learn something new everyday!
Wow damn shame…thanks Dakar
Things like this still happen in Africa… watch the film “The Constant Gardener”
I remember watching the movie “Miss Evers’ Boys” a few years back about it. I’m so skeptical of any shots. Way too many conspiracy theories out there. Everyone stay safe and stay smart! ♥
Great feature!
And don’t think something like this has not happened since or will not happen again. This is a big reason I rather have the FLU, which I have now…
——Lmao at some of these actors on this thread. Some of the same names that call
——everything a “conspiracy” and the people who are aware of it “conspiracy
——theorists”. The Tuskegee experiment is the very tip of the iceberg in regards
——to the germ warfare that has been, & is still being waged on the black, hispanic,
——and native american communities, and the dark races worldwide by the devil that
——the Bible speaks of. The only way to get a negro to believe it is a documentary,
——unfortunately. One of the main modern day weapons for the propagation of AIDS
——in the black comunity that the white man is currently using is the
——microbioinoculator. That, in tandem with the demonization of the black male is
——intended to lower the population by making blacks fear procreation with each
——other, which indirectly promotes h*mosexuality and l*sbianism. It’s something
——that the white man has always done in his history, but the American whites got
——many of their ideas from the Nazis after they brought their scientists to America
——in what was known as “Operation Paperclip”.
Very Interesting and informative post!!! I have no words though…. This is just unbelievable! I saw this on another site a few days ago and I looked it up…. some people say that it never happened… sounds like they were trying to sweep the issue under a rug! The relatives of those infected need to be heavily compensated! They lost precious time with loved ones to this! 9 million for relatives of 400 people is not enough! Not to mention they exploited these vulnerable people who were probably uneducated and did not fully grasp the consequences!
I read about this ish. The goverment took advantage of poor, uneducated and illerate black men for some expirmental mess. Sphyllis will eventually start affecting your brain before you die causing things such as demtia….just terrible the many injustices our people have suffered at the hands of the goverenment. Burial insurance though..cause they knew the outcome wasn’t going to be good. SMDH
@JUDAH – the American govt didnt need the help of the Nazi’s to experiment on Africans/Blacks or the Indians. Americans created the most sadistic violent society against Africans/Indians that was never seen before.
Maybe the Nazi’s introduced a new way but I doubt it. Africans were plagued w/ different diseases contracted from those nasty ass Europeans in route to America or the Caribbean. Europeans/Americans poisoned the Indians garmets/cloths and killed thousands of them, it’s called the “…….. Trail” the name escapes me. But the point is European/Americans are the most vicious sadistic type of persons in the world.
Like Malcolm X said. This govt cant go to any country and declare that they brought peace to that land. The US govt is only associated w/ violence. It’s in their nature. This country was stolen by the scum of the earth – ousted by the European govt.
Food for thought people, Im done doing dishes!
for one thing i dont understand why blacks have higher rates in having an std than other races
and another thing people of no matter race can still do you dirty ex: the government
why people say this and that about whites when its the same if whites say blacks could rob them. like i said b4 anyone could do you dirty at any given moment no matter what race.
This is shameful. And the woman Miss Evers, a black woman, lead all those men to their deaths and they gave her an award. I am a black woman, and nobody could make me sell my brothers down the river like that!
This is shameful. And the woman Miss Evers, a black woman, lead all those men to their deaths and they gave her an award. I am a black woman, and nobody could make me sell my brothers down the river like that!
I won’t be surprised if the HIV virus was introduced in the same way!!! Pharmecutical companies have been known to be testing experimentative drugs in african villages as well.
This shiz was terrible. I am going to get a flu shot…I WILL BE CHECKING THAT NEEDLE SYRINGE…lolz..j/k. That is really terrible. That guy is somewhere in hell right now with a lighter fluid diaper.
See, this the kind of shit that make me want to rob white people!
Lmao @ 57!!!!!
Stuff like this makes me hate white people.
Tp many emotions running through me as I read this article and the thought and fear this is could be happening now…omg, God please help us…smh
Wow, shocked! “People” can be so evil.