The Tuskegee Syphilis Study

by Fred D. Gray, David Sadzin (Narrator)

Beginning in 1932, health agencies of the U.S, government began a shocking medical experiment on several hundred peer, uneducated African-American men from the rural areas near Tuskegee, Alabama. These men were told they had "bad blood" and were promised free medical treatment. In fact, they had syphilis, and they were deliberately left untreated so doctors could study the long-term progressive symptoms of the disease. For forty years, this experiment continued. Its subjects did not know how they were beingused, the community did not know, and the public did not know in 1972. the experiment came to light, and civil rights attorney Fred Gray filed a massive, ultimately, successful, class action lawsuit against the government.

Early in 1997, the survivors of the study were deeply offended by an HBO television broadcast of Miss Evers' Boys, play about the Study. They felt the production was inaccurate, insensitive, and insulting in its portrayal of them and that it placed responsibility for the study not on white officials but on the victims' outrage over the film, attorney Gray led a campaign to get President Clinton to publicly apologize on behalf of the nation to the Study survivors, which the President did on May 10, 1997. In a White House ceremony.

In the Tuskegee Syphilis Study attorney Gray has written an insider's account of the study, the lawsuit, the controversy over the film/play and subsequent apology. He profiles some of the men involved, and puts in perspective the social conditions that allowed the study to be created to begin with and to continue for so many years.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Medical, Race

Audiobook

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[MM Suarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always wanted to learn more about this heinous and shameful part of our history and while this short book provides a decent overview of the incident, it reads more like a legal report that tells us too much about Mr. Gray and his accomplishments and not enough about the individuals that suffered as a result of this government sponsored horror. The writing in this book was often repetitive and dry as toast, I am not sorry I read it but I wish I would have picked a better book on the subject.

[Chris Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly dry. It reads like an early part of a legal document. I feel like it is factual and showcases the event, but that's it. Don't expect to feel a connection with anyone or anything other than the topic of bioethics. I gave it three stars because it is the sum of its parts. It's factual and trims all day outside of it, which makes it monotonous at times. Still, important information for sure.

[Andy Helms · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject of this book, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, is such an important topic to study. It was a shameful part of US American history, and I’m glad I read this book. It has given me a more complete understanding of the Tuskegee Study and its impacts. This book provided a good overview of the Study and what happened afterwards. It’s written by famous civil rights lawyer, Fred Gray, who represented the Study participants in their lawsuit against the government. My only issue with this book was that it was very clearly written by a lawyer, and the writing style wasn’t what I hoped for. That being said, I’m still glad I read it.

[Andrea Keeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super repetitive but very interesting - a classic case study in any bioethics discussion.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book written by the lawyer for the Tuskegee Study participants. Fred Gray was a civil rights lawyer in the Tuskegee area, and had won many cases involving voting rights and education prior to becoming involved with the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. His account of the study takes you from the beginning of the study in 1932 through to the Presidential apology made by Clinton in 1997. Gray continually points out the many ways that the actual victims of Tuskegee were left out of the healing process, from the time of the study's revelation, even up to the public government apology. He very rightly points out that the legacy of the Tuskegee Syphilis tragedy is to teach us to never lose sight of the wrongs perpetrated by the study, and to make sure that we never do it again. I'd like to read the book Bad Blood, by Jim Jones. It's a more in depth look at the study. Gray does a good job in highlighting the main aspects of it, but doesn't provide many of the original documents. Jones does this in Bad Blood.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved learning about the subject of this book, but I have to say that it was obviously written by a lawyer. A lot of information that I did not need was in this book, and the author seemed to talk about himself a lot...

That being said, this book was definately worth reading and really opened my eyes to how horrible these experiments were - not only because of the impact of the study itself, but also because so many people knew of it and never stopped to question the morality of what they were doing.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to people who are interested in learning about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study but don't want to get too immersed in details. I found this very easy to read. Mr Gray was the attorney who sued the US Government on behalf of the surviving participants.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most despicable "study" done. Once a cure all the participants should have been treated. PERIOD. We can be a most horrible race to others.

[Leah Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give this such a poor review because I believe this is such an important subject matter and history lesson especially in 2021. This would probably be a good reference book for a case study in law school but it very much written by an attorney. I think the book Bad Blood might be better since that is what Fred Gray frequently references. I wanted to know more about the participants and would have loved to read a book written from their perspective and what they went through. The US government is currently injecting an emergency authorized (not FDA approved) shot into millions of people. These shots are still under trial and it terrifies me that many people getting these shots are unaware of this important fact. Using emergency actions both state and federal government have gotten around so many rules recently. Have they really changed since the Tuskegee experiment?l

[Nyasha Gluch · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is very much written in the voice of a lawyer, it is extremely important to read the facts in regards to the injustice of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The lack of embellishment allows the truth to be gathered in this account.

I would love to add Bad Blood, by Jim Jones to my reading list and expand my knowledge into the detail of the study, that I trust remains historically accurate based on Dr. Grey’s mention of it in this book.

Only by learning about such painful chapters as this in medical history can we ensure a brighter future for everyone, in the US and around the world that is actively anti-racist.

I greatly enjoyed how this account was presented and while not ‘entertaining’ I was happy it wasn’t!

[Becks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s factual and concise. He’s does not ramble. Gray gives contextual information surrounding this horrible study. He discusses the ramifications of it in the county.

He is dry and speaks lawyer. But it makes easy to listen/read to because he doesn’t not throw in anything that is not relevant and you have to pick through.

[MollyRN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very technically presented data that is somewhat difficult to follow. However, I’m glad I read it (audio version). I wish I could say that it’s hard to believe this happened in America, in our lifetime but it’s unfortunately, not hard. Shameful study, misrepresented to undereducated, impoverished black men lasting 40 yrs! 1932-1972. Human Guinea pigs. Shameful.

[Bambi Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more about the lawsuit, I would have liked to know more how each individual life was affected over the years of the study. Humans and their ability to treat other humans so poorly will always disgust me.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star strictly because it is a legally presented factual account by the attorney for participants of the study. 5 stars for facts and subject matter. So glad I got this an audiobook I never would’ve made it reading the book!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well done, a really good primer on the study and legal aftermath. The book is exactly as described, so I gave it 4 stars. What it lacks is stories from the participants. I would like first hand narratives in future books.

[Zane Watters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting topic, and I am glad I read it. However the writing was pretty slow at times. And as it was written by a lawyer, the book details a lot of the legal aspects from after the study. I guess I was hoping to hear more about the participants and what happened during the study.

[Nancy Istenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and detailed account of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the cultural and racial biases that allowed it to happen and the steps taken to give a sincere apology. Let us learn and not repeat the grievances of the past.

[Britty Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some thoughts:
I didn't realize just how many people were complicit in making sure that these guys didn't get treated.

Maxine Waters has been in the game a long time.

I'm glad the Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Center got built and is still going.

[Bruce Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not terribly well written, but the substance of this story overrides any problems of style. The moral / ethical lapses of virtually everyone conducting this study are nearly inconceivable, yet given the time period perfectly believable.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. Written by the gentleman that litigated for the men affected by the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, it didn't delve into the men's stories like I had hoped it would.

[Seth Ingram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in Alabama, I’d heard about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study but never took the time to fully understand it. The details are just as tragic as you’d imagine. I love Alabama, but we still have a lot to reckon with from our past.

[Charles Collyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attorney Gray's account of the study and his suit on behalf of the participants. Does not detail the National Research Act or the institution of IRBs at hospitals and universities.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful telling of the study from the lawyer who represented the men.

[PaperCut Mistress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awful part of American history. Really cool it was written by such an influential lawyer

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have like more information on the actual study but was an okay synopsis of start to finish.

[Drey · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a heinous, shameful, and deplorable moment in history. fascinating read from mr. gray's perspective on this incident

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative. Plus, it is written by the attorney who represented plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifically fascinating. I didn't know much about the Tuskegee Syphilis study so this was an eye-opening quick read. Well written, but obviously written by a lawyer with numbered arguments. Written by the lawyer who represented many of the victims and their families, Gray had an insider view of the events. A number of passages focus on the author and his role in the events which I was less interested in and repeated quite a bit of material but still a very good overview.