The Black Angels

The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis

By: Maria Smilios

Narrated by: Gina Daniels

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.

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.

Beautifully written

Every nurse should read this. Especially those who worked during COVID. Triggering at times but it felt good knowing that there were nurses before who conquered TB and touched so many lives. They also dealt with short staffing, high patient ration, and limited PPE. This portion of America’s history needs to be shared. We can learn so much about Medical institutional racism and discrimination. Hopefully, we can discuss openly this taboo topic and continue to find ways to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself and also, find solutions for bias and discrimination that occur at both the interpersonal and the institutional level of healthcare.

Amazing Dedicated Women

I loved getting to know some of the women who worked at Seaview. Also appreciated the history of TB in America also.

Reads like a great story

One would almost not believe this is truly nonfiction as the author has written it like one of the best fiction books.

Well written, enjoyable non fiction.

Very much like historical fiction with all of the characters lives and so much information about the disease with so many failed originally hopeful trials. I learned so much about this era that I did not know. I really enjoyed the story style. I would certainly recommend this book to others.

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.

Smooth narrative non-fiction

Combines medical history (including very graphic descriptions of TB signs and symptoms) and racial discrimination seamlessly.

A true calling

It's shameful that most of us have never knew this story and the impact these nurses have had, Beautiful and incredible story about the dedication of these nurses.