Law Center News
Southern University Law Center welcomes Nikole Hannah-Jones, Ben Crump to the stage for second annual Henrietta Lacks Symposium
The Southern University Law Center, in partnership with the "Increasing Clinicians of Diversity" Initiative through the Louisiana Department of Health, Southern University A&M College and the Southern University Museum of Art Cultural and Heritage Center, is hosting the second annual Henrietta Lacks Symposium set for March 22-23 at the Southern University Museum of Art Cultural and Heritage Center.
This year's theme is "Humanizing HER: Elevating the conversation of fertility, health equity, maternal health and medical racism. The symposium aims to elevate Henrietta Lacks’ family's 70-year quest for justice and illuminate the crucial intersections of health equity, fertility, medical racism, and Black maternal well-being.
The two-day conference will kick off on Friday, March 22 with an intimate dialogue titled "Cultural Reality: A Conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ben Crump". The Pulitzer Prize and Emmy award-winning journalist and nationally recognized civil rights attorney, respectively, will converse about the junction between academia and advocacy. In addition, both authors will discuss excerpts from their award and best-selling books that have sparked global conversations regarding the legacy of US enslavement and the discriminatory practices of the US criminal justice system.. On Saturday, March 23, healthcare professionals, legal scholars, and advocates will take the stage to provide insight on fertility and black maternal health, along with updates on the historical Henrietta Lacks court case.
On Saturday, healthcare professionals, legal scholars, and advocates will take the stage to provide insight on fertility and black maternal health, along with updates on the historical Henrietta Lacks court cases as well as attending Lacks' family members.
The panel conversations will include Dr. Neil Chappell, fertility specialist and advocate; Frankie Robertson, president and founder of The Amandla Group, LLC, Nancy Davis, president and founder of The Nancy Davis Foundation; and more.
In 2023, the Law Center hosted the inaugural Henrietta Lacks Symposium. The event focused on shedding light on seeing women through the genetic, reproductive, and criminal justice lens of society. Panelists recounted personal, traumatic accounts of injustice and discussed meaningful solutions to societal issues.
The event is free; however, registration is required. Healthcare, community relations, policy advocacy, and education professionals are encouraged to attend.
To register and learn more, visit sulc.edu/lackssymposium or contact Jasmine D. Hunter at jhunter@sulc.edu and 225-421-9742.
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