Let’s continue our journey through family archives and the US Public Health Service Study of Untreated Syphilis at Tuskegee through the lens of the “participants…” rather the unknowing subjects of the study. The word “participant” became more and more distorted throughout my research because it implies an awareness and intentional willingness that simply wasn’t there, so in this episode, I’m excited to explore who the men were as people, what they meant to their families and their communities, and how they lived their lives. This is an exploration of their humanity, and special thanks to Joyce Tyson Christian for sharing reflections about her beloved father, Freddie Lee Tyson.

When Arzell Lester entered the CDC as a laborer in 1961, he had no way of knowing that his 25 year career would culminate in being appointed director of the health benefits program and approving the medical claims of the men subjected to the U.S. Public Health Service Study of Untreated Syphilis at Tuskegee. Explore granddad's archives in this episode as he comes face to face with the infamous study.

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Welcome to Archival...where we're living in the past on purpose.