Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present

Chapter 12 focuses on the complicated ways in which new discoveries in the field of genetics intertwine with race. Washington begins the chapter by noting how advances in genetic testing have proven to be an important boon for falsely imprisoned African Americans. For individuals falsely accused of rape such as Calvin Johnson, DNA testing (often referred to as “DNA fingerprinting”) has allowed for new evidence that proves their innocence. However, Washington notes that DNA testing has yet to exonerate all of the individuals imprisoned unjustly, as the testing is often more expensive than what Black inmates can afford. In some instances, labs have also purposefully falsified tests to support convictions.

Washington is particularly wary of DNA evidence due to the growth of numerous governmental DNA databases. These databases, such as the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, keep permanent records of thousands of individuals’ genetic data—many of whom have never been accused of a crime. Further, many of these genetic databases are predominantly (and in some cases exclusively) composed of the DNA of Black or Latino individuals—a fact that Washington argues may predispose the justice system to seek convictions of people of color when searching for the perpetrator of a crime. Further, Washington notes that despite the similarity in naming, databases of DNA “fingerprints” differ tremendously from typical fingerprint databases, as DNA contains a far greater wealth of information on one’s health profile and risks.