The Center serves as a permanent memorial to the 623 African American men who were used by the federal government in the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Before introducing President William Clinton at the White House on May 16, 1997 on the occasion of the Presidential Apology to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study victims, Mr. Herman Shaw made remarks regarding their legacy. He said, "In addition to an apology, the participants wanted a permanent memorial in Tuskegee, Alabama that would not only show their contributions, but the contributions others have made in the field of civil and human rights."

President Clinton then apologized to the men of the Study on behalf of the United States government telling them:

"The United States government did something that was wrong - deeply profoundly, morally wrong. ... To the survivors, to the wives and family members, the children and the grandchildren, I say what you know: No power on Earth can give you back the lives lost, the pain suffered, the years of internal torment and anguish. What was done cannot be undone. But we can end the silence. We can stop turning our heads away. We can look at you in the eye and finally say on behalf of the American people, what the United States government did was shameful, and I am sorry."