The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in America's Segregated South

Chip Jones' The Organ Thieves investigates the racial inequality surrounding the heart transplant race of 1968, where a black man's heart was stolen and put into a white businessman's chest without his family's permission. This reflects the long legacy of mistreating African Americans, culminating in efforts to win the heart transplant race.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

In 1968, a black man named Bruce Tucker suffered a head injury and was admitted to Virginia's top research hospital. However, what followed was a shocking and unprecedented event: his heart was stolen from his body and transplanted into the chest of a white businessman. This incident, documented in the book "The Organ Thieves," exposes the horrifying inequality surrounding Tucker's death and how he was used as a human guinea pig without his family's permission or knowledge. The circumstances surrounding his death reflect the long legacy of mistreatment of African Americans, dating back more than a century, with cadaver harvesting and other unethical practices.

The heart transplant race in the late 1960s was a culmination of these efforts, with medical professionals and researchers vying to be the first to successfully perform the procedure. However, Tucker's death was not just a tragic accident; it was a result of the systemic racism and discrimination that permeated the medical field at the time.

The book "The Organ Thieves" is a groundbreaking investigation that sheds light on the untold stories of African Americans who have been exploited and mistreated in the name of medical research. Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Chip Jones has conducted years of research and fresh reporting to uncover the truth about Tucker's death and the broader implications of this scandal.

The story of Tucker's heart transplant is a chilling reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by African Americans in the healthcare system. It highlights the need for greater transparency, accountability, and diversity in the medical profession, as well as the urgent need to address the legacy of racial inequality that has plagued our society for generations.

In conclusion, "The Organ Thieves" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of race, healthcare, and ethics. It is a powerful and eye-opening account of a tragic event that sheds light on the ongoing struggles faced by African Americans in the United States.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529400625