Many leaders from within the African American community and beyond rose to prominence during the Civil Rights era, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Andrew Goodman and others. They riskedâand sometimes lostâtheir lives in the name of freedom and equality.
Cancers believed to be caused by contact with Agent Orange. 1  Chronic B-cell Leukemia: A type of cancer that affects your white blood cells (cells in your bodyâs immune system that help to fight off illnesses and infections)
Agent Orange and Cancer. About 3 million Americans served in the armed forces in Vietnam and nearby areas during the 1960s and early 1970s, the time of the Vietnam War. During that time, the military used large amounts of mixtures known as defoliants, which are chemicals that cause the leaves to fall off plants. One of these defoliants was Agent Orange, and some troops (as well as civilians) were exposed to it.