Building a History: Uncovering Unethical Mind Control Research in Kentucky

Did you know that incarcerated Black men were experimented on for decades? From 1947 to 1974, the CIA used and exploited Black men in studies to test psychotropic drugs for mind control. These horrific, non-consensual studies took place at ARC (now rebranded as the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA), a facility that doubled as a prison and research center. For decades, the truth about these experiments has been buried.

Fifty years later, we’re asking: What were the real impacts and consequences for the victims, their families, and Lexington’s Black community?

We are working to uncover the full story through a community-based participatory approach to center the voices of those most impacted and bring justice to this hidden past. Join researchers Sheldomar Elliott, BA and Lianna Tullis-Robinson, MA, to talk about this project, racism in research, and the hidden history of a cold war project called MK-Ultra.

(After the early bird period there is a small fee to offset costs. Please reach out if this poses a hardship!)