Patrick Pattillo News Today

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Lacks, a Black mother in Baltimore, died from cervical cancer in 1951. Her tumor cells, taken without her knowledge, became the first successful "immortal" cell line, and used for medical research.

Pattillo also was an advocate for Lacks' family, and vetted author Rebecca Skloot before she could meet and interview them.