The Shocking True Story Behind Captain America’s Forgotten Hero

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Despite some critics finding Captain America: New World Order less than impressive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the most recent Marvel film is entirely devoid of merit.

It seems there’s consensus near the water cooler at TopMob that Anthony Mackie plays a charming Captain, and many found Red Hulk appealing. Additionally, the celestial island dogfight was enjoyed with a touch of Top Gun vibe.

To be honest, it’s Isaiah Bradley who truly captivated me. As Sam puts it, Isaiah is the “Captain America” the U.S. government would rather keep hidden. While Steve Rogers emerged as the star-studded hero with a vision, Isaiah was mistreated and cast aside by a government he had faith in.

Indeed, my fascination with Isaiah grew so profound that I delved deeper into his character, uncovering an astonishing revelation along the way. There’s a grain of authenticity in his tale worth exploring. However, before we dive into that, let’s clarify the roots of Isaiah’s comic existence.

Who is Isaiah Bradley?

In the Truth: Red, White & Black #1 (January 2003), we were first introduced to Isaiah Bradley, often referred to as “the African-American equivalent of Captain America.” However, it’s essential to note that while they share the title of super soldiers, their lives and experiences were significantly distinct.

In World War 2, both individuals received the serum, but their situations couldn’t contrast more. Isaiah, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, obtained his dose during the Korean War. Unlike the other recipient, who likely volunteered for the experiment to create super soldiers (it’s uncertain whether Isaiah was part of an effort to duplicate Steve Roger’s serum or if he received a precursor version before Steve).

300 men endured gruesome tests due to being forcedly exposed to a defective super-soldier serum. Miraculously, merely ten of them made it through alive. Among the survivors, only Isaiah managed to utilize his abilities to break free from confinement and eventually engage in combat.

Following his escape, Isaiah subsequently took a Captain America suit and engaged in heroic battles. Later, he was incarcerated in the U.S., spending many years behind bars until finally gaining his freedom again.

Unfortunately, the treatment he received resulted in him developing a type of memory loss akin to dementia (luckily, his Marvel Cinematic Universe counterpart is unaffected by this condition). Despite his high regard as a hero, his health no longer permits him to continue active service.

The account of Isaiah is surprising indeed, yet misconstruing it as a fictional tale from a comic book would be regrettably incorrect. Instead, the events portrayed in this character’s life were grounded in an authentic historical event known as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

What was the Tuskegee experiment?

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, a research project carried out by the U.S. Public Health Service between 1932 and 1972, aimed to examine the progression of syphilis in individuals who were not given treatment. During this study, around 400 African American men (numbers may vary depending on the source) were knowingly infected with syphilis, and the disease was allowed to run its course without any intervention for a period of 40 years.

28 men succumbed to syphilis itself, while 100 others passed away due to complications arising from the disease. Furthermore, the spouses of 40 men contracted the illness, and 19 newborn babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis.

As a fervent history enthusiast, I’d like to share some insights about a chilling chapter in our nation’s past. This controversial study, which remained under wraps until 1972 when it was exposed to media scrutiny, has since earned the dubious distinction of being the most notorious clinical experiment in American history.

Regrettably, President Bill Clinton later expressed remorse for this deplorable study on behalf of our country, branding it as “shameful.” Yet, I cannot help but question the true value of apologies. Over a hundred lives were tragically truncated and denied the fullness of health due to this study, which was tainted by racial prejudice.

It is my humble belief that the pursuit of justice and reparation should be our priority, rather than merely offering words of regret. The victims of this heinous experiment deserve far more than an apology – they deserve restitution for the lives cruelly stolen from them.

It’s quite evident how Isaiah’s tale mirrors the Tuskegee experiment; if there’s any doubt about it, Marvel has made it clear that Isaiah’s narrative is heavily influenced by this dismal episode in U.S. history.

As Truth Be Told: Authorship and the Creation of the Black Captain America reveals, the concept for the character Isaiah originated from a discussion between Marvel Comics’ publisher Bill Jemas and Editor Axel Alonso. Intrigued by the political implications of draping a black man in red, white, and blue, Jemas sparked the idea, and Alonso swiftly associated it with the Tuskegee experiment. He then proposed this concept to writer Robert Morales, who enthusiastically developed it further.

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2025-02-14 19:53