York Nursing Students and Faculty Hear the Story of "The Black Angels," Nursing Heroes

York College nursing students and faculty recently attended an all-day event sponsored by the College of Staten Island’s (CSI) Nursing Department, Center for Teaching and Learning, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing (SIGMA) Mu Upsilon Chapter, and Transcultural Nursing Society Northeast Chapter.

In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, this live event about the “Black Angels: The untold story of the nurses who helped cure tuberculosis” presents the remarkable story that took place at Staten Island’s Seaview hospital (Smilios, 2023). In the pre-antibiotic days, when tuberculosis (TB) killed one in seven infected, white nurses resigned en masse. To avert a public health crisis, Black nurses from the south were recruited to work in Seaview Hospital to take care of this vulnerable population with no hope of recovery. On arrival, the nurses faced racism and inadequate staffing. These nurses went unnoticed until Ms. Smilios reached out and gave their story a voice in her book, The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis.

The day began with a trip to the Seaview Hospital Historic District, site of the multi-building hospital facility for the care of patients with TB. Dean Maureen Becker joined the faculty and students for a guided tour from Diane Garcia, a graduate nursing student at CSI. At the turn of the century, TB was the leading cause of death in New York City, creating a public health crisis. Built on 25 acres, Seaview’s sprawling, self-contained campus (workshops, chapel, laboratories, and nursing accommodations) housed 1,400 patients at the height of the epidemic. In 1943, Dr. Edward Robitzek and Dr. Irving J. Selikoff found the cure for TB, crediting the nurses as essential clinical trial partners. With the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting an increase of 8% in TB cases in 2023, the highest number of cases since 2011, this educational experience was timely and relevant.

Next, a trip to the Staten Island Museum, where students had time to explore the “Black Angels” and “Seaview Hospital” exhibits. Reading personal stories of nurses and patients, seeing some of the equipment used and viewing pictures of “outdoor” nursing care. Prior to negative pressure rooms, ventilation and fresh air were key to preventing transmission of TB.

The main event was held at CSI, following lunch and a networking session with nursing faculty and students from the college, with a presentation and discussion by author Maria Smilios. The event featured a video interview with Virginia Allen, 93, one of only two surviving Black Angels. Dr. Allen shared her nursing philosophy, advising nurses to understand the past to prepare for the future and focus on advocacy for patients and healthcare providers. She discussed the parallel between TB and COVID-19, pointing out that nurses were on the frontlines in both health crises, providing care and comforting patients and their families.

A panel discussion with Ms. Smilios explored her journey as she researched the story of the Black Angels and how her perception of nurses changed over time. She provided practical advice for healthcare providers to pursue research, examining untold stories of nurses, women, and marginalized groups. This was followed by a Question & Answer session with York nursing students actively participating, asking pertinent questions about Ms. Smilios’s research, how policy changes affect public health and her connections with the nurses and their families. Listen to the CSI Today Talks Podcast (Season 4, Episode 11) to learn more about the Black Angels.

Family members of the Black Angels spoke about their connection with Seaview and provided a window into the lives of these amazing nurses. The presentation highlighted the courage, strength, resilience, challenges, and tribulations of heroic African American nurses who cared for the poorest, most vulnerable patients.

The day wrapped up with a book signing and an opportunity for students to meet with the author and family members of the Black Angels. The director of the Staten Island Museum presented a book outlining the history of Seaview to the York College nursing program. One of the family members, Bernice Meadow Alleyne, shared a fundraising initiative to create a memorial to the Black Angels and designate Frederick Douglass Memorial Park with protected landmark status. The event was featured on CSIToday (Terry Mares, March 18th, 2025)

This event provided an exceptional opportunity for students and faculty to learn from living historians and understand the impact of policy and research on marginalized groups, applying that knowledge to present-day infectious diseases. “I cannot tell you how proud I was of our students and faculty throughout the day. Our students wore their white uniforms which stood out and was illustrative of the professionalism cultivated by their mentors, York’s talented and dedicated Nursing Faculty,” said Dean Maureen Becker.

Planning Committee:

Dr. Patricia Burke (York College, Transcultural Nursing Society Northeast Chapter)

Dr. Margarett Alexandre (York College, Transcultural Nursing Society Northeast Chapter)

Dr. Marianne Jeffreys (CSI and Transcultural Nursing Society Northeast Chapter)

Dr. Arlene Farren (SIGMA Mu Upsilon chapter, CSI, and Transcultural Nursing Society Northeast Chapter)

Dr. Wilma Jones (CSI Center for Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development).

Organized and co-sponsored by

• Transcultural Nursing Society Northeast Chapter
• College of Staten Island Nursing Department
• CSI Center for Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing (SIGMA) Mu Upsilon (CSI) Chapter

York College:

President: Dr. Claudia Schrader

Vice-President for Finance & Administration: Eduardo Rios

Dean: Dr. Maureen Becker

Nursing Department Chair: Dr. Renee Wright

College of Staten Island:

Provost, Dr. Michael Steiper

Associate Provost: Dr. Laxmi Ramasubramanian

AVP: Dr. Michel A. Hodge

Dean Ralf Peetz

Nursing Department Chair: Dr. Randelle Sasa

Staten Island Museum:

President & CEO: Janice Monger

Funding for York College nursing students is provided by the York College Auxiliary Enterprises Corporation, Inc. grant.