Open That Scab

4: Jim Crow and the African-American Nurses that Combated Tuberculosis in New York with guest Maria Smilios

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Maria Smilios is the author of The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis. Working as a development editor in the biomedical field, Smilios came upon the story of the African-American nurses who played a key role in the cure of tuberculosis and she just had to share it. The result is a gripping account of the lives of the women who came to New York and performed heroically against tremendous odds.

What we cover –

  • The scourge of tuberculosis in the early 19th century and how it threatened the lives of millions of Americans.
  • Why a medical institute in New York that was dedicated to combating tuberculosis looked to African-Americans living in the south to fill its nursing positions.
  • The effects of Jim Crow on these nurses and the continued racism they combatted in New York.

    • Discover more at openthatscab.com.

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    Open That ScabBy David Cross