The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was a unethical and racist medical experiment conducted by the United States Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972. The study took place in Tuskegee, Alabama and involved nearly 400 African American men, most of whom were sharecroppers.

The purpose of the study was to observe the natural progression of syphilis in untreated individuals. The participants were told that they were receiving free medical care for "bad blood," a term used to describe various ailments in the region. However, the men were never informed that they had syphilis, nor were they given the proper treatment for the disease, even after penicillin became widely available as a cure in the 1940s.

As a result, many of the participants suffered from severe health complications, including blindness, deafness, mental illness, and even death. The study was finally exposed to the public in 1972 by journalist Jean Heller, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation. This scandal highlighted the deep-rooted racism and disregard for the lives of African Americans within the medical and scientific community.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study has had a lasting impact on medical ethics and research practices, leading to the establishment of strict regulations to protect the rights and well-being of research participants. It also served as a catalyst for increased awareness of the mistreatment of African Americans in the healthcare system and the need for advocacy for health equity and justice.