The song "Tuskeegee #626" by Gil Scott-Heron sheds light on the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, which took place from 1932 to 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama. The lyrics of the song criticize the unethical actions carried out during this experiment. The first verse reveals that someone has become cunning or deceptive. It implies that individuals in power have taken advantage of the situation where deadly diseases, such as syphilis, are affecting people's lives. The line "seeing what makes us tick" suggests that they are observing and studying the effects of these diseases on African Americans. In the chorus, the song refers to "Tuskeegee #626," which is a reference to the Tuskegee study. This research project involved the United States Public Health Service (PHS) studying the natural progression and effects of untreated syphilis in black men. The line "scientists getting their kicks" indicates that the researchers were indulging in their own curiosity or sadistic pleasure. The verse continues to criticize the experiment by emphasizing that deadly diseases like syphilis can freely take their toll without any intervention or concern for the victims. The line "results ain't hard to predict" suggests that the researchers were well-aware of the potential harm they were causing. In the final verse, the song addresses how the Tuskegee study was hastily pushed aside or ignored. The term "brothers" emphasizes that the victims were predominantly African American men used as guinea pigs in these vicious experiments. The line "for vicious experiments" captures the song's condemnation of the unethical and inhumane actions performed under the guise of scientific research. Overall, "Tuskeegee #626" serves as a critique of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, condemning the researchers and shedding light on the harm inflicted on African American individuals who were subjected to this unethical study.
