Gladys is Henrietta Lacks’ daughter, who plays a significant role in the story. In ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,’ the author Rebecca Skloot explores the impact of Henrietta’s legacy on her family, particularly highlighting the life and experiences of her children.
Gladys is portrayed as someone who had to deal with the consequences of her mother’s cells being taken without consent. She represents the personal side of the ethical issues surrounding medical research and the exploitation of African Americans in the field of science. Her character helps to illustrate the depth of the emotional and social struggles that Henrietta’s family faced as they navigated the complex legacy of HeLa cells, which became critical to medical research yet profoundly affected their lives.