Miss Evers Boys

Miss Ever's Boys is a play based on the true story of a medical abomination that occurred in Tuskeegee, Alabama. A study concerning the existence and general nature of syphillis was conducted. In the study, however, a group of African American men, Miss Ever's Boys, were purposefully given the syphillis virus. The men were told they were being treated for "bad blood". Even after the cure for syphillis was discovered, the studies continued. Penicillin, a cheap, over the counter drug, could have easily saved the lives of those men. As a result of this disgusting occurrence, Miss Evers had to watch each of her boys eventually die from a treatable illness. I liked the play because it showed a more personal side to the story. It's easy to read about this tragedy on paper and say that it was wrong, but the way the story was told combined with stellar acting really brought the play home for me.

Princess Jenkins-Simlin