Nicole Malliotakis: “As our Nation celebrates Black History Month, I rise to honor Staten Island's own Black Angels. Seventy years ago…”

“As our Nation celebrates Black History Month, I rise to honor Staten Island's own Black Angels. Seventy years ago, tuberculosis plagued our Nation, killing over 1 billion worldwide and accounting for nearly 18 percent of all deaths in New York City alone. Fear of this unknown, highly contagious, and deadly disease led many nurses who were treating tuberculosis patients to quit. In search of staff, New York City turned to African-American nurses from the Jim Crow south who could not find jobs due to segregation, and 300 women bravely accepted New York City's request to help to serve sick patients, taking advantage of the opportunity for employment in a career field often withheld from them. They became known as the Black Angels. These nurses selflessly cared for 2,000 patients in my district at Staten Island's Sea View Hospital. They played a significant role in the first ever human trials and the first drug to cure tuberculosis. Since its discovery in 1952, tens of millions of lives have been saved, and these women all did it at a time when they didn't even have equal rights in our country. {time} 1015 I am proud to represent the last remaining Black Angel who worked during the trial. Staten Island's Virginia Allen began as a 16-year-old pediatric nurse's aide and worked in the ward for 10 years. She was there during the clinical trials and is one of the two Black Angels who are still alive today.…”