Analysis of Urban Responses to the AIDS Epidemic

AIDS Crisis and the Intersectionality Among Race, Socioeconomic Status, Geographical Location, and Public Health Issues Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name Date The AIDS epidemic, an astounding health challenge in the late period of the 20th century, was observed in the use of different lenses that depict the very complex weft of race, socioeconomic status, residence, and public policy that are all interwoven strands. Through the lens of intersectionality, this paper seeks to explore these dimensions by analyzing two distinct yet complementary sources—David France's documentary "How to Survive a Plague," a story that narrates the role played by prominent Whites in the early years of AIDS crisis, and Rashad Shabazz's "Ghost Mapping," which mainly delves into the geographical and racial impact of this disease on Black Chicago residents. France's (2012) documentary sheds light on the pervasive struggles of the primarily white community in Manhattan regarding the disease. The director reveals the birth of activist groups like ACT UP and TAG, representing their pivotal role in instigating medical discoveries and policy changes. Additionally, it revolves around activism, the quest for medical advancement, and the resistance against institutional apathy. Conversely, Shabazz's (2015) "Ghost Mapping" entails the socio-spatial causes of the HIV/AIDS epidemics in Black Chicago. The author investigates the amalgamation of incarceration, urban geography, and racial disparities, standing the ground that these factors furthered the susceptibilities of the African American community to the spread of the disease. By readdressing the theme of "spatializing the risk" due to harsh policies and structural racism, ...