![]() Skloot acknowledges that the lack of medical research conducted on minorities leads to a gap in medical knowledge about these communities, and potentially impacts their health care. Skloot wanted to discover what role race did play in this story to be able to build better relationships today between communities and scientists. Did Skloot write this book with the intent to expose the controversial aspects of medical research? Skloot began writing the book with knowledge of a general mistrust of medical research in the African American community. The next question addresses the controversy present in the book. She began with the family by trying to lay out all of the possibilities of their interviews – Would the book be published? Who would the audience be? Would it be popular? What does it mean to be written about? Skloot also emphasizes she continually reminded Deborah that she was a reporter, not simply a friend she was sharing family stories with. Did Skloot ever feel that her ethics were ever compromised? Skloot states that from the beginning she was very open with the family and concerned with obtaining their consent and providing them with information. The second question deals with the ethics of ethnography. However, Deborah saw her mother’s story as one of social class, not race, and perhaps saw Skloot’s race as less of an impediment to her ability to share the Lacks family story that Skloot herself. She stresses that she attempted to advocate for the family, and was always conscious of her presence as an outsider. In her answer Skloot also addresses the issue of a white writer attempting to tell the story of a black woman and her family. Skloot realized that she was a character in the narrative as a person who both wanted something from the family and provided them with experiences they needed. ![]() However, she found that many of her very personal experiences with the family, particularly with Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, truly were essential to the narrative. Originally, Skloot did not plan to include herself in the narrative, and is generally skeptical of doing so. ![]() The first audience question deals with Skloot’s decision to include herself in the narrative and the effects that had on her relationship with the family and the development of the book. Skloot states, however, that many readers do see a clear point of view in her book. In the book’s writing she attempted not to demonize the scientists, yet represent the views and concerns of the family. Skloot emphasizes that she tried to be objective while writing the book, though it was difficult. Chancellor Biddy Martin begins the question and answer session with one of her own by asking Skloot about the point of view of her book.
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