Marilyn Nelson’s Fortunes Bones: The Manumission Requiem
Greenbelt Branch
Saturday, February 25, 2 pm
Join Marilyn Nelson in a reading and discussion about her ground-breaking work and the inspiration that lead to the poem and book.

The Continuum: From Fortune to Henrietta Lacks and Beyond
In the early 1950’s an African American woman from Baltimore County named Henrietta Lacks was treated for cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. During radiation treatment tissue was taken from her body without permission. Doctors discovered that her cells did what no other cell had done before – survived! Named HeLa to protect her anonymity, her cells are considered immortal because they can divide an unlimited number of times. They have been used in the development of a polio vaccine, in cancer and AIDS research and contributed to countless other scientific discoveries.

Enjoy a panel discussion that includes scientists, researchers and Henrietta Lacks son, David Lacks.

Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD
Monday, February 6, 7:30 pm

Oxon Hill Branch
Tuesday, February 7, 7:30 pm

Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Book Discussion Groups:

Laurel Branch – Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7:30 pm
Beltsville Branch – Monday, March 12, 7 pm
Oxon Hill Branch – Tuesday, May 22, 6:30 pm