Southern Connecticut State University recently welcomed celebrated author Maria Smilios and a very special guest, Ms. Virginia Allen, age 93, for an event that left an indelible mark on attendees. Smilios’s groundbreaking book, The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis, sheds light on the heroic efforts of a group of Black nurses who played a pivotal role in combating tuberculosis during one of the 20th century’s most harrowing public health crises.
Ms. Allen, one of the last living members of the Black Angels, joined the event to share her firsthand experiences as a nurse, labor relations advocate, and social activist. Her moving account brought history to life, offering students a rare opportunity to connect directly with someone who shaped this critical chapter of medical history.
The program, sponsored by the SCSU School of Nursing, included a moderated conversation with Smilios and Allen, who chronicled the Black Angels’ tireless efforts to care for tuberculosis patients in a segregated and often hostile health care system.
To learn more about the event, watch Fox 61’s coverage “Author of ‘The Black Angels’ speaks to SCSU students about nurses who helped cure tuberculosis” (Nov. 20, 2024).
