Episode 2-1: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study - Voices of Our Fathers

Myeloma Team Podcast

Today's guests are Mrs Lilie Head, President of “Voices for our Father, Legacy Foundation”, and Lilie’s sister Joyce Christian.

Joyce and Lillie’s Father, Freddie Lee Tyson and Mr. Tyson’s “bad blood” is the reason we’re here. It’s a horrible and complicated part of our country’s history begun nearly a century ago that compounded a culture of distrust and created seemingly insurmountable fissures.

Voices For Our Fathers Legacy Foundation was organized in 2014 by the descendants of the 623 men unethically and immorally treated in the United States Public Health Service Syphilis studies from 1932 - 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Voice For Our Fathers, Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that connects descendants across generations, provide annual scholarships to descendants, and participates in the Research Project: “The Untold Story”, as well as offers support and guidance to the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care while pursuing all other strategic plans.

According to VOICESFORFATHERS.ORG, Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation sets the record straight concerning the United States Public Health Service Syphilis Study that was conducted over 4 decades from 1932 to 1972. 623 African American men in Macon County, Alabama were treated like lab rats without their knowledge or consent. They were lied to. This event damaged us all and now African American communities have understandably built giant walls distrusting the motivation of healthcare providers. Especially relevant during this global pandemic.

Voice For Our Fathers exists to tell the story of the affected Tuskegee families and to share their truth.

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