Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 during treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. These cells, known as HeLa cells, became the first immortal human cell line, meaning they could divide indefinitely in a laboratory setting. HeLa cells have been crucial in medical research, contributing to advancements in vaccines, cancer treatments, and understanding various diseases. Henrietta's story raises important ethical questions about consent and the use of human tissues in research, highlighting issues of race and medical ethics in the United States.