All About Eve

13: The Immortal Woman & The Pilot: Henrietta Lacks & Niloofar Rahmani.

April 20, 2020 Julia & Anna Season 2 Episode 2
All About Eve
13: The Immortal Woman & The Pilot: Henrietta Lacks & Niloofar Rahmani.
Show Notes

Julia presents us with the heartbreaking moral dilemna of Henrietta Lacks, the first immortal human. Though she died in 1951, trillions of her cells are still in existence today and being used for medical research for all sorts of conditions. The problem? At no point did she consent to this and died having no idea of her lasting legacy. With the well-documented medical exploitation of Black women and femmes throughout history, this issue is as important now as it ever was. Anna introduces us to Captain Niloofar Rahmani, the first woman from Afghanistan to ever fly a plane. After a childhood displaced by war under the rule of the Taliban, Niloofar leapt at the chance to join the Afghan military. Despite the new found freedom she discovered, she has been targeted by extremists who want to stop her flying. If you're looking for bravery and nerves of steel, look no further.