You keep apologizing and my people continue to die...

Between 1932 and 1972, 399 poor, illiterate black men from the Tuskegee, Alabama area were used in a U.S. Public Health Service clinical study of the syphilis disease. All of the participating men tested positive for syphilis yet none of them knew of or were ever informed of their illness. Instead, they were told by the physicians and scientists conducting the study that they had "bad blood" and would receive free health care as participants of this study.  The U.S Public Heath Service fooled these men into thinking that they would help them when in reality, they had no intention on providing assistance. The purpose of this study was to follow the natural progression of untreated syphilis therefore no medical aide was provided to the participating men. Rather than providing care, the physicians in this study stood by and watched as innocent black men suffered and died from a curable disease. This study is most popularly known as the Tuskegee Experiment. This study was created and funded by United States Government. 

Physician extracting blood from man in Alabama

Just a few days ago, news reports revealed that the United States Public Health Service infected some 700 Guatemalans with the sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea and syphilis as part of a clinical study that lasted from 1946 to 1948. The uninformed victims of this study were prisoners and mentally ill patients who never gave consent to be used as objects of study. These victims were given inadequate health care and were abandoned with the illnesses that they were given after it was determined that the study would not provide any useful information. Since this atrocity was revealed only days ago, there are very few details available about the "scientific" methodology of the study  and even less information available about the unfortunate victims. However, if nothing else, it is apparent that this study, just like the Tuskegee Experiment, was created and funded by the United States Government. Also, as with the Tuskegee Experiment, this study in Guatemala was inflicted upon people of color in compromising positions. 


In 1996, President Bill Clinton issued a heart-felt apology to the victims of the Tuskegee Experiment...Now, in 2010, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have apologized to Guatemala for the unethical actions of the U.S. government.


They keep apologizing yet we continue to die. What's next? Uncovering the truth about the AIDS epidemic?


We must stay informed and fight for equality and fair treatment of our people. People of color are under attack. Don't be fooled and never stop the the fight...