Bad Blood

“Bad blood” was a term used to describe syphilis in the early twentieth century. The United States government, the greatest government in the world, put experiments in place on poor, uneducated African American men during the 1930’s. These men were told that they were going to be given free treatment for the bad blood and everything would be taken care of. Prior to the experiments they were not told the full effects of syphilis and what serious effects it takes on the human body. They preyed on their ignorance, knowing that they could get away with these heinous experiments because the subjects were black, uneducated and poor. Of course, those living in a community with and eighty percent black population who were mainly poor and illiterate would be an easy target to conduct experiments. Tell them that would be given proper treatment and fed good meals. Why weren’t the experiments conducted on white subjects? Whites suffered from the disease as well as African American. Were African Americans expendable? Did their lives and well-being not matter? In the larger scheme of things, America was not far removed from the Emancipation of slavery so African Americans were still not considered first class citizens, on par with white Americans. This was still evident in the deep south. Most African Americans still had the slave mentality and worked as share croppers for white plantation and farm owners. They were still subject to lynchings, and other violent acts. Washington D.C. had no concern for what was taking place in Alabama because of the impoverished conditions that the African American was living in. These poor men were taken advantage of and manipulated into taking part of these experiments because most had no other choice. They were bamboozled into thinking that what they were doing was for the greater good. Community leaders in Macon County, Alabama were also led to believe that the experiments and studies were also for a worthy cause and that if they agreed to it, the community would trust them and participate. It was easy to use local influence rather than an outsider coming in and telling you what was good for you. There was mention in the documentary of the Nazi experiments during World War II. In retrospect, these experiments were just as monstrous as those. The Tuskeegee experiments took place before the atrocities of World War II. Did the Nazis use the Tuskeegee experiments as a blue print when they tortured the Jewish people in Europe? I don’t believe these questions have been asked or answered. Maybe they should be addressed by the world.
Those who survived the experiments have more than apologies due to them. There is no going back in time and righting the wrongs that were done to them. America has always tried to apologize for mistakes that were done in the past. The gesture may be done in good nature but it doesn’t ease the pain that was experienced throughout a lifetime.
As an African American man living in America today, it hurts me to know that I live in a country that has such a jaded past when it comes to race relations. I love America and am proud to say that I had the privilege to defend her, but it would have been difficult for me to live in different periods throughout history. I may have not have lived as long as I have in today’s world because of my stubbornness. I would have been one who would say no and stand up for those that were done wrong. I have always been one who appreciates the sacrifices made by those who came before me. By listening to the old folks in the family talking about the past made me want to learn more. My great-uncle would talk about how his grandmother grew up during slavery and how they slept on dirt floors in a one room shanty. We need to take a look back to see where we came from and where we need to go.