After being the subject of a racial trope by disgraced head coach Jon Gruden, NFL Players Association Director DeMaurice Smith wonders if the leaked email signals a larger issue within the league.
Smith joined ESPN’s The Right Time podcast hosted by Bomani Jones and discussed the bombshell scandal to hit the NFL, after leaked emails showed racist, sexist, and homophobic comments from Gruden.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus honored the late Henrietta Lacks with a WHO Director-General’s award, recognizing the world-changing legacy of this Black American woman who died of cervical cancer, 70 years ago, on 4 October, 1951.
While she sought treatment, researchers took biopsies from Mrs Lacks’ body without her knowledge or consent. Her cells became the first “immortal” cell line, and have allowed for incalculable scientific breakthroughs such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the polio vaccine, drugs for HIV and cancers, and most recently, critical COVID-19 research.
Shockingly, the global scientific community once hid Henrietta Lacks’ race and her real story, a historic wrong that today’s recognition seeks to heal.
“In honouring Henrietta Lacks, WHO acknowledges the importance of reckoning with past scientific injustices, and advancing racial equity in health and science,” said Dr Tedros. “It’s also an opportunity to recognize women - particularly women of colour - who have made incredible but often unseen contributions to medical science.”
The award was received at the WHO office in Geneva by Lawrence Lacks, Mrs. Lacks’ 87-year-old son. He is one of the last living relatives who personally knew her. Mr. Lacks was accompanied by several of Henrietta Lacks’ grandchildren, great-grand children, and other family members.
“We are moved to receive this historic recognition of my mother, Henrietta Lacks – honouring who she was as a remarkable woman and the lasting impact of her HeLa cells. My mother’s contributions, once hidden, are now being rightfully honored for their global impact,” said Lawrence Lacks, Sr., Henrietta Lacks’ eldest son. “My mother was a pioneer in life, giving back to her community, helping others live a better life and caring for others. In death she continues to help the world. Her legacy lives on in us and we thank you for saying her name – Henrietta Lacks.”
Today, women of colour continue to be disproportionately affected by cervical cancer, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the many faultlines where health inequities persist among marginalized communities around the world. Studies in various countries consistently document that Black women are dying of cervical cancer at several times the rate of white women, while 19 of the 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burdens are in Africa.
The family’s discussions with WHO especially focused on the Organization’s ambitious campaign to eliminate cervical cancer. The past year, which marked the 100th anniversary of Henrietta Lacks’ birth, coincides with the inaugural year of WHO’s Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. This historic campaign marks the first time ever that all WHO Member States have collectively resolved to eliminate a cancer.
The family also joins WHO in advocating for equity in access to the HPV vaccine, which protects against a range of cancers, including cervical cancer. Despite having been prequalified by WHO over 12 years ago, supply constraints and high prices still prevent adequate doses from reaching girls in low-and-middle income countries.
As of 2020, less than 25% of low-income countries and less than 30% of lower-middle-income countries had access to the HPV vaccine through their national immunization programmes, compared with more than 85% of high-income countries.
“It is unacceptable that access to the lifesaving HPV vaccine can be shaped by your race, ethnicity or where you happen to be born,” said Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Priorities and Special Advisor to the Director General. “The HPV vaccine was developed using Henrietta Lacks’ cells. Although the cells were taken without her consent and without her knowledge, she has left behind a legacy that could potentially save millions of lives. We owe it to her and her family to achieve equitable access to this groundbreaking vaccine.”
As a young mother, Henrietta Lacks and her husband were raising five children near Baltimore when she fell ill. She went to Johns Hopkins after experiencing extensive vaginal bleeding and was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite treatment, it cut her life short on October 4, 1951. She was only 31 years old.
During treatment, researchers took samples of her tumour. That “HeLa” cell line became a scientific breakthrough: the first immortal line of human cells to divide indefinitely in a laboratory. The cells were mass produced, for profit, without recognition to her family. Over 50,000,000 metric tonnes of HeLa cells have been distributed around the world, the subjects of over 75,000 studies.
In addition to the HPV vaccine, HeLa cells allowed for development of the polio vaccine; drugs for HIV/AIDS, haemophilia, leukaemia, and Parkinson’s disease; breakthroughs in reproductive health, including in vitro fertilization; research on chromosomal conditions, cancer, gene mapping, and precision medicine; and are used in studies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the presentation of the award, the family and WHO will proceed to the shores of Lake Geneva, to watch the city’s iconic Jet d’Eau illuminate in the colour teal – the colour for cervical cancer awareness – in honour of Henrietta Lacks’ legacy and in appreciation of the family’s support for the global campaign to eliminate the disease. It is the first of several world monuments that will illuminate in teal between now and November 17th, marking the first anniversary of the launch of the global elimination campaign.
“Through HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative, my family stands in solidarity with WHO and our sisters around the world to ensure that no other wife, mother or sister dies needlessly from cervical cancer,” said Victoria Baptiste, Henrietta Lacks’ great granddaughter. “As a registered nurse, I am proud to also be here today to honour my great grandmother’s legacy by advocating to ensure equitable access to the breakthroughs that her HeLa cells advanced such as the HPV vaccine. It is only fitting that as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Henrietta Lacks’ HeLa cells and her untimely passing, we build upon her legacy by ensuring equitable access to advances in cancer prevention and treatment for all people.”
“Though her life was cut short, Henrietta Lacks’ contributions to medicine have led to remarkable scientific breakthroughs, saving countless lives and bringing us closer to eliminating cervical cancer,” said Dr Senait Fisseha, Co-Chair of the Director-General’s expert advisory group on cervical cancer elimination. “Her story is also a clear example of how Black women have long been overlooked in healthcare and still are today. I applaud the WHO for recognizing her, a vital step in acknowledging the incredible impact she’s had on science and honouring her legacy in advancing health justice for people around the world.”
“The fight to eliminate cervical cancer is part of the larger fight for human rights,” said Dr Groesbeck Parham, who participated in the civil rights movement as a teenager in Birmingham, Alabama, and is now Clinical Expert for WHO’s cervical cancer elimination initiative and Co-Chair of the Director-General’s expert advisory group. “Through her immortal cells, Mrs. Henrietta Lacks speaks to us, also calling our attention to the millions of young women and mothers in low-income countries who still continue to die from cervical cancer because they cannot access and afford to purchase the life-saving medicines, technologies and medical procedures that are readily available in high-income countries. The questions being raised by the spirit and legacy of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks are: ‘why does this situation exist’, ‘what are the solutions’, and ‘when are you going to implement them.’”
Officials from Fort Hood released the following information Oct. 10 regarding the ongoing efforts to locate Pfc. Jennifer Sewell. Sewell is a Fort Hood soldier who failed to report for duty on Oct. 7.
Leadership from Sewell’s chain of command spoke to Sewell’s family earlier this evening, Oct. 10 at approximately 7 p.m.
Sewell’s family confirmed she is safe and with extended family.
Fort Hood officials continue to communicate with Sewell’s family and friends, to ensure she has access to resources she may need and to return her safely to Fort Hood.
“Pfc. Sewell is a valued member of our team, and our number one priority is ensuring her safe return. We are in regular contact with her family and will provide any assistance she and her family may need to return to Fort Hood,” said Ltc. Octavia Davis, commander of Regimental Support Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment.
Fort Hood officials are respecting the family’s privacy and will not provide any additional information until the appropriate time.
The Atlanta Dream today announced industry veteran Tanisha Wright will join the team as head coach. As the fifth head coach in franchise history, Wright brings over 14 years of experience in the league as a player and coach to this role, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces.
“It’s an honor to be chosen as head coach for the Atlanta Dream, and I’m excited to play a role in building a successful organization centered around the player experience,” said Wright. “I have been part of championship teams and understand what it takes to win in this league. I look forward to bringing my talents to this franchise and helping the Dream achieve success.”
As head coach, Wright will be responsible for fostering the growth of the Dream’s players and establishing a culture of integrity and accountability. She comes to the Dream during a pivotal year in which the organization welcomed the new ownership group including WNBA All Star Renee Montgomery, the first former player to become both an owner and executive in the WNBA. Wright’s announcement is yet another positive milestone in building the Dream organization, as former NFL executive Morgan Shaw Parker was recently named President and COO. Earlier this year, the Dream was also named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for the players’ remarkable work last year championing social justice efforts that influenced the Georgia Senate election.
“Known for her defensive mindset, emotional intelligence, and grit, we are beyond thrilled that Tanisha Wright is joining the Atlanta Dream,” said Larry Gottesdiener, Owner and Chairman of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha demonstrates a rare depth of character that is inspiring, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact she will have on this team.”
“Words cannot express how excited I am for a rising talent like Tanisha to join the Dream,” said Renee Montgomery, Owner and Vice President of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha is widely respected across the league, and as with all great leaders, she will set a strong example for our team.”
Wright spent ten seasons as a guard with the Seattle Storm, where she helped lead the team to nine straight playoff appearances, and a WNBA Championship in 2010. During her basketball career, she joined the Charlotte 49ers as an assistant coach, before retiring as a player in 2019. In 2020, the Las Vegas Aces signed her as an assistant coach, where she worked closely with industry leader Bill Laimbeer.
Prior to joining the WNBA, Wright was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State and was named a First-Team USBWA All-American.
City Manager Wanda Page has named Patrice V. Andrews as the next police chief of the Durham Police Department (DPD).
Andrews has served as the police chief for the Town of Morrisville Police Department since 2016, and will join the City of Durham on November 1.
According to Page, during the intensive interview process with four finalists, Andrews demonstrated that she is prepared and possesses the right combination of leadership skills, training, and knowledge to lead the Durham Police Department into the future.
“I am confident that Chief Andrews is the right leader for Durham, where she spent most of her law enforcement career,” said Page. “I am happy to welcome her back to Durham, where she also has deep family roots and developed lasting relationships in the community while working and living here.”
Page added that throughout the interview process, Chief Andrews consistently demonstrated by her responses that she would be a progressive and innovative 21st century policing leader, while making a strong impression on the members of the diverse interview panel, most whom were Durham community, business, faith-based, and law enforcement leaders.
"I am honored to have been chosen as the next Chief of Police for the Durham Police Department,” Andrews said. “This is a full-circle moment for me during a pivotal time for our city and police department. I am committed to working collaboratively with the City of Durham management team, members of the Durham Police Department, and the entire Durham community to build upon established successes and identify innovative strategies to reduce violent crime while addressing recruiting, retention, and morale. Durham is a vibrant, inclusive community with a rich civil rights history where all are welcome to live, work, and play. I look forward to the future that we will create together."
Andrews has more than 25 years of experience, most of which were gained at the Durham Police Department as she rose through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer in 1997, walking the beat, advancing to district commander, to captain, where she most notably supervised units within the Criminal Investigation Division, including the Special Victims, Homicide, Domestic Violence, and Fraud units. Additional responsibilities included responding to all major incidents including homicides, and any other incident as assigned by the Executive Command Staff. She also helped put strategies in place to assist the Forensics and Intelligence/Crime Analysis Unit to investigate crimes.
Her experience also includes serving as a sergeant in the DPD’s High Enforcement Abatement Team, which was a street-level gang and narcotics enforcement unit, a detective corporal, investigative corporal, and police corporal as well as an investigator in the DPD’s Special Operations Division.
In 2016, Andrews was selected as the Morrisville Police Chief, where she was responsible for all operations of the department, including the Administration, Patrol Operations and Support Services divisions. There, she led the creation of a multi-phase career development and succession policy while also addressing compression and compensation. She also implemented a body-worn camera program, and worked with surrounding agencies to develop and implement a response to the death of George Floyd, which resulted in Morrisville’s adoption of the Project 8 Can’t Wait recommendations.
Andrews is a 2016 graduate of the Executive Law Enforcement Management from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy as well as a 2012 graduate of the Executive Leadership Program from the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University, and currently serves as General Instructor for the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
Andrews is a member of the National FBI Academy Associates Session 263, International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), North Carolina Police Executives Association North Carolina Chapter – FBI National Academy, North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, North Carolina Law Enforcement Women's Association, Governor's Crime Commission, Chair of the Governor's Crime Commission Crime Victims Service Committee, and the Governor's Crime Commission School Safety Task Force.
Open forums in English and Spanish were held virtually earlier this year, and an online survey was posted on the City’s website, to obtain feedback on the characteristics the Durham community hoped to see in next police chief. There were also 608 responses collected in an online survey, which was also available in Spanish.
