Harriet Washington talked about her book, Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, published by Doubleday. Journalist and medical ethicist Washington described medical research on African Americans from colonial times to the 20th century. She described the “Tuskegee Syphilis Study” that began in 1932 and was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service. Almost 400 African American men were withheld treatment for syphilis to study how the disease would affect them in its late stages. The author contended that this is just one of several experiments that shaped the way in which African Americans relate to today’s medical industry. She showed many illustrations from her book and responded to audience members' questions.

Harriet Washington has been awarded the Congressional Black Caucus Beacon of Light Award and investigative journalism awards from the National Association of Black Journalists.