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While it might arguably useful to prove through scientific study that whites and blacks were harmed in the same way by the disease, doing so against consent is beyond unethical, it borders on criminal. They did not tell the participants they even had a sexually transmitted disease and therefore endangered their sexual partners and resulting children, some of whom were born with congenital syphilis. Also many in the community believe that this experiment included actively infecting members of the study not just watching its effects. People who are poor and without political power are preyed upon like it or not. Arguing that somehow the science community is now more enlightened doesn't change this fact or this fear.

As for "educated African Americans," I am plenty enlightened about science but I understand the push back. You think of the test subjects as those "who happen to be black." But they live and breath being black every day and have no reason at all to trust you and your experiments. You scientists have bad bed-side manners. Go and convince them of your character. After all, the community has been through why should they just take your word for it. You are dealing with people not lab animals. Sorry if they don't sit still and let you poke and prod.