The Black Angels

The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis

By: Maria Smilios

Narrated by: Gina Daniels

Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

New York City, 1929. A sanatorium, a deadly disease, and a dire nurse shortage. So begins the remarkable true story of the Black nurses who helped cure one of the world’s deadliest plagues: tuberculosis.

During those dark pre-antibiotic days, when tuberculosis killed one in seven people, white nurses at Sea View, New York’s largest municipal hospital, began quitting. Desperate to avert a public health crisis, city officials summoned Black southern nurses, luring them with promises of good pay, a career, and an escape from the strictures of Jim Crow. But after arriving, they found themselves on an isolated hilltop in the remote borough of Staten Island, yet again confronting racism and consigned to a woefully understaffed facility, dubbed “the pest house” where “no one left alive.”

Spanning the Great Depression and moving through World War II and beyond, this story follows the intrepid young women, the “Black Angels,” who, for twenty years, risked their lives working under dreadful conditions while caring for the city’s poorest—1,800 souls languishing in wards, waiting to die or become “guinea pigs” for experimental (often deadly) drugs. Yet despite their major role in desegregating the NYC hospital system—and regardless of their vital work in helping to find the cure for tuberculosis at Sea View—these nurses were completely erased from history. The Black Angels recovers the voices of these extraordinary women and puts them at the center of this riveting story celebrating their legacy and spirit of survival.

Cover photo of nurses courtesy of NYCHHC/SeaView Archives

©2023 Maria Smilios (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s 40 New Books for Fall Reading

“Vivid…[An] indelible portrait of an era when this untreatable bane killed one American every 11 minutes…[The nurses’] tenacity in the face of harsh working conditions and pervasive racism is humbling and inspiring…Excellent…[A] book that deserves reading and remembering in the pandemic age.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Extraordinary…Written with an astute grasp of the medical facts surrounding TB, [the] book eloquently highlights the humanity of the nurses who were recruited from the segregated South to provide care for people with TB in the hospital when nobody else would…Smilios is a rare combination of rigorous scientist and an exquisite writer…[A] must-read for anyone in the TB field but also for those who wish to gain a better understanding of the factors that drive current health disparities.” —The Lancet

“Immensely rewarding…[A] confluence of histories, encompassing public health, urban development, race, class, and social upheaval…[Smilios] blends all of the threads she followed into a big blistering narrative that takes readers into the lives of an exceptional group of individuals whose personal stories are as compelling as the disease they confronted was deadly. Informative, enthralling, and sometimes appalling, this is American history at its best.” —Booklist, starred review

Great black history

I enjoyed reading about the accomplishments and achievements of my people, Black Americans, in spite of the obstacles before them. The author and narrator are commended in their excellent telling this story of great 20th century Americans.

Tons of amazing medical American/black history that easily reads like your favorite novel.

Where to start… 🤔This book was fascinating, heartbreaking, heart warming, funny, triggering, deeply interesting, informative, and vexing‼️

As a woman, black person, & nurse, I’ve learned and heard about many social injustices, atrocities & horrible acts of racism mentioned. I’ve even experienced my own workplace racism. But the stories and recall in this book, hits different.

My God‼️ The level of patience, resilience, tenacity , perseverance, eye on the prize, black unity, fearlessness, discipline, emotional intelligence, self control, black girl magic & excellence, continues to leave me in total awe of my fellow black nurses. So many times, I wanted to throw my phone across the room and scream‼️

The way TB, germs, medicine, & the scientific method were described, was so captivating & informative. I wish science could’ve been explained to me like l that in schools.

I also thoroughly enjoyed hearing the pov and job tasks of the doctors & nurses. As a nurse, I can confirm the descriptions were spot on‼️ The patient accounts were vividly accurate as well. I could see them, hear them, & smell them.

The narrator of this book’s voice sounded like it was created just for this story. She did such an outstanding job‼️🙏🏾🙌🏾

This book is a page turner and very hard to put down‼️❤️

loved it History unveiled again

Another story showing that Black Americans helped build, support and move this country forward despite all of the obstacles, challenges and difficulties . When you read about the struggles and treatment it is eye opening.

Making a Difference Regardless

This book is amazing. I read alot, but I never heard about The Black Angels. Once again, Black women risked their lives to make a difference. Those brave Black women endured racism and still triumphed. Black History IS American History! Thank you for the story.

Loved this!

I'm so glad to have been able to listen to this book. It was amazing and I've learned a lot. Sad that while I was in Registered Nursing College, never heard of these amazing Black Nurses.

VERY EASY LISTENING AND AN IMPORTANT STORY

I enjoyed this book – an almost forgotten story of the courageous nurses who helped get us through the days of frightening tuberculosis epidemics before there was any “cure”. I thought it was an important story - not of grand masters of the universe but of the day-to-day real people getting things done. The book is well written, flows nicely and tells a compelling history of mistreatment of the nurses who were valiantly trying to help, but blocked and put down in so many ways. I enjoyed the narration and thought that added to the story. Very worthwhile listening to this book!

History, science, memoir

This book is fascinating, entertaining, inspiring and educational! This is the kind of book that makes you want to delve further into the subjects. Aside from the racist ANA, makes one proud to be associated with the nursing profession.

Informative and touching

The reader was perfect in this true and wonderful story about black nurses and so many others who worked very hard to make the world a better and healthier place. I highly recommend!

This is a must read for all nurses!

If you like Marie Benedict’s style, you are going to love this book! It’s a great look back at nursing in America.

The plight of black nurses during the time in which the story was told.

As a black nurse this story made me appreciate what these nurses went through. I now embrace the opportunities I have with greater appreciation and gratitude.