The mini-documentary Black Angels is the previously untold story of African American nurses who risked their lives to care for patients with Tuberculosis, when there was no cure, and white nurses refused. 

The film will be introduced by filmmaker and nurse, Denetra Hampton, and will be followed by a panel discussion.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and as part of our ongoing celebration for the Year of the Nurse & Midwife, Penn Nursing proudly presents the mini-documentary Black Angels.This documentary gives homage to the journey of those African American nurses who traveled mostly from the south to answer a call to a national shortage of nursing, particularly caring for Tuberculosis patients, even if it cost them their own lives.Seaview Hospital is the landmark for the cure of tuberculosis by Dr. Edward Robitzek, who was born in New York City, and affiliated with the Sea View Hospital  for 32 years, until his resignation as director of medical services in 1973.  The Black Angels were professional nurses, and had it not been for their dedication to human life, clinical practice and public health, many more lives might have been lost. In this film we honor, Black Angel, Marjorie Tucker Reed, born in Norfolk, Va. We are honored to share her last interviews before her death on Nov 17, 2018, conversations with her family members and a life that has paved the way.Please join us for this important screening, and stay for the panel discussion following the film.

Panelists:

·        Denetra Hampton, Filmmaker, Diversity Champion, Entrepreneur, Nurse 

·        Cynthia Anne Connolly, PhD, RN, FAAN, Rosemarie B. Greco Term Endowed Professorship in Advocacy Professor of Nursing, Penn Nursing

·        Karen Flynn, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and Department of African-American Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

·        Hafeeza Anchrum, fifth year PhD student, Penn Nursing. Ms. Anchrum’s dissertation is on race, Black nurses and healthcare civil rights.