"AIDS and ART" - South Bronx, 1990
1990 MARKED A MAJOR MILESTONE for activism in the Latino/Hispanic community in regard to AIDS awareness.
In 1989, a study conducted by Bronx-Lebanon Hospital showed that out of a test sample on 143 patients (emergency-room walk-ins), 23% tested positive for the HIV virus!
The following year Latino Commission on AIDS was formed. The Hispanic Federation of New York City is also formed and subsequently creates the LUCES initiative, a coalition dedicated to developing public policy and advocate for a Latino HIV/AIDS agenda. At the urging of these organizations, other social-service CBOs, as well as local arts-centered groups and local art council, Latino artists began to create art that reflected themes connect to the AIDS epidemic as a form of cultural activism.
I created this image as part of a series on the subject in the South Bronx.
Today, in New York, AIDS continues to affect the Latino community disproportionately at a rate 5.7 times higher than whites. October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
