The most intelectual and entirely serious tumblr.

(I uploaded sooner but forgot hashtags)

I think it would be very interesting to watch the HBO movie on Henrietta Lacks and interpret their portrail of the story. What topics or themes would be most prevalent? And how would they incorporate the scientific and historical information that the book provides? Do they leave out any so-called boring scientific/historic details? The way which Henrietta and her family is portrayed can tell a lot about our society and our understanding of this time period. I also wonder if the movie covers the ethical dilemma of taking Henrietta's cells or even nonconsensual experimentation. Taking a look at the book vs The movie would give a better understanding of what the entertainment industry is like and what Americans truly care about.

https://milk.procon.org/questions/how-big-is-the-milk-industry/

My next source may seem a bit far off from Henrietta lacks but none the less reminds me of the book. This next source being the television series "Once Upon A Time". Once Upon A Time is a show about fairytale characters coming to live in our world as real life people in the town of storybrooke. The reason this TV show reminds me of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is because of how close everybody is and how weary they are of strangers. The entire town of storybrooke is a close community much like the neighborhood Henrietta lived in today. When Rebecca Skloot, the author of Henrietta Lacks, traveled to Henrietta's neighborhood the children were intrigued and everybody seemed to know the reverend that Rebecca met(look to page#71). Most of the people were welcoming but Henrietta's family and the people that knew her wanted nothing to do with Rebecca because she was a stranger. (This can be seen when Deborah is told to stop talking to Rebecca. And when Day does not wish to talk to her over the phone towards the beginning of the book)

My very first secondary source is the television series “Shameless”, which is about a poor Chicago family struggling to pay the bills. Together the Gallagher family saves up money by contributing whatever they can, even the children have to pull their own weight. farther into the series themes of death and acceptance of death are explored. One example of this is when a very wealthy and young doctor finds out she has pancreatic cancer (towards the end of season 5). With only a two percent survival rate the doctor has no hope for life and would rather accept death than go through treatment. She wants to live her last moments of life to the fullest so she runs off with the Gallagher family’s father, Frank Gallagher, together they get into all sorts of trouble. This theme of acceptance of death relates to Henrietta’s scenario because she eventually comes to terms with her cancer and accepts that she is going to die. Furthermore I am reminded of the theme of alienation because of class. Throughout the series the Gallaghers are referred to as “ghetto” or “south-side” due to their financial situation and where they live. Plus at one point Frank Gallagher needed a liver transplant but could not afford it. In Henrietta’s early life her family had to work hard to pay the bills too and could not afford proper healthcare like the wealthy could. 

Another small observation I noticed was how colored people in Henrietta's situation struggled financially. Even growing up the book describes how they all had to work in order to provide for the family, Day had to drop out of school in the fourth grade in order to work (this can be found in the early chapters of the book, around 2 or 3). My brain automatically connects this to a television show called "shameless" which is a show about a low income family making ends meet in Chicago. This show is very mature so I suggest you do not watch it, honestly I shouldn't have. Regardless, one of the first scenes of the entire series is all of the children pitching in money to pay bills. Even the kids who were just in early middle school.

I was fairly skeptical going into this unit because I have never been one to enjoy reading. Although after giving the first couple chapters a try I find myself actually enjoying the reading. It was an interesting choice for the author to start the story off with Henrietta going into the hospital as her husband and children wait in the car. This introduces three characters while also keeping us in wonder as to why Henrietta needed to go to the hospital. Her trip in the hospital gave a lot of context as to what life and culture was like during this time period. Examples include the separated bathrooms and what health care looked like for many people of color(pg#15). The author manages to fit a lot of information into a short first chapter, without it feeling too overbearing or boring.

Alphenson Deng was a sudanese child fleeing the south sudanese war and the violent acts that came along with it. I think it is imperative for everyone with a working pair of eyes to read his memoir. It is beautifully written and makes the reader feel a very important emotion, compassion. Yes I know compassion is very overly used yet it is the only accurate word I could find to describe how Deng leaves his readers feeling. We as a society should know exactly what the people in these situations go through, in order to help us gain an understanding with our fellow earthlings. Alphenson Deng's story has genuinely made me feel a deep sense of caring for people across the world that I have never even met. One of the most important ways to upholding humanity is through helping others and caring. So many people nowadays lack compassion, and one of the few ways to preserve this compassion is to experience and share. Which is why reading Deng's story is so so important for the betterment of both you and the world. Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

....thank you for coming to my ted talk (: