How do I define activism after reading and watching the film? I define activism as a group of individuals pushing through their fight for justice in what they believe in to make a change.
The film that I watched was “united in anger.” This film shows real-life moments that activists from ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) group together, men, women of all races and classes, came together as a force to change the world and save each other’s lives. The ACT UP group was formed in the basement of Manhattan’s lesbian and gay community center. Their focus was to address the AIDS epidemic. They needed the government to push forth medical research, treatment, and advocacy. Many people were dying from AIDS, and no one was listening. The FDA was not approving medications for patients diagnosed with AIDS. On October 11, 1988, ACT UP had one of the most successful demonstrations when they successfully shut down the FDA to show that they wanted change now because people were dying as they spoke. They demanded the FDA to have the experimental drugs readily available and distributed fairly. The cost of these drugs was high and remains high. The medication cost can range from 1,800-4,500 per month for the patient’s lifetime. The thought of the cost of this medication is mind-blowing; one of the quotes that hit me was when an ACT UP member heard that some of the people against them say, “it was gay people just getting what they deserve.” This statement is revolting. People live their lives how they want and when the tables are turned, they want to judge others because they choose to love who they want to love doesn’t make them less human.
I have never participated in activism. I was invited to join the black lives matter rallies, but I didn’t get the chance to go. One of the reasons for that was my parent’s fear of me being hurt or targeted in these rallies. During the peak of the COVID pandemic, one of the largest rallies in New York City was happening, but many people were being arrested, tased, and pepper-sprayed. It was out of control. The way I saw, I could help post on social media, but I learned then that not many of my friends or family members understood what I was advocating for, and they unfriended me and vice versa. The whole thought about black lives matter vs. all lives matter is true, but the black lives matter stemmed from the oppression of black people in the United States. The fact that black people were being shot and killed around the U.S without being armed or a threat to society baffled me, and I had to advocate for them on social media. Being united for the cause to find the middle ground for everyone is where I want to be. There is so much injustice in the world that, at times, I feel discouraged, but many people are trying to find a way to help and push forth fairness and equality, and it’s truly admirable.
It is concerning how often in this country’s history people have to fight for what should be considered a human right. The way you described your movie to be was powerful many people died of AIDS and for a long time they considered it to be a gay mans disease. Even today gay men are not allowed to donate blood and its unfortunate that medical coverage is not free in this country.
Thinking of your quote of “it was gay people just getting what they deserve”, Pat Buchanan, who was Reagan’s communications director at the time, famously said that AIDS was “nature’s revenge on gay men”. Something that has always struck me about the epidemic , and something I think still persists through today, was the moral judgment that was placed upon those afflicted with it. That people deserved to die for what others deemed immoral behavior. I don’t know if we’ve ever fully moved past that, some people might only have true empathy for someone who contracted HIV in some other way than sexual activity or intravenous drug use. And to that point I think that was one of the movements biggest challenges, making the world seem them as worthy of empathy. But perhaps this is universal in some way to all activism, to get people to see things from a perspective other than their own.
Hi Jessica, I think the same as you, saying how disgusting people can be when they feel entitled to criticize anyone they shouldn’t. There is nothing wrong with being homosexual, this is completely normal and has to be respected. Because, if they respect a heterosexual couple, why is the homosexual one different? I feel that this film has the purpose of showing how bad some people are, in how they talk about anything without caring about the feelings of others, and that is why in the film they resort to making the public see what in reality occurred/occurs with anyone who has a different sexual orientation than “normal”. There are times when it is not possible to physically be in a movement towards any injustice, but that does not mean that you are supporting that movement. Many times, there is no time to be able to join these movements, so the only thing left is to support them through social networks. So no matter how many are against you, what you did to be able to show anyone on your page what was happening is worth much more than anything.
Hey Jessica, thank you for sharing that on October 11, 1988 ACT UP successfully shut down the FDA because they wanted change. This demonstrates the impact of how powerful we are when we come together and unite and stand for a cause
Jessica, Thank you for these thoughts. I am sorry you had to experience the backlash of people you know reacting to your posts in support of BLM. Thats definitely the hardest things about standing up for what you believe in, that it won’t always be liked or received well and you still have to stick to it. So good job finding a way to stand up for what you support.
To think of what so many people have gone through over decades of activism to chip away at change is incredible. Although it felt challenging, like they’re not getting anywhere, they all still did it, and that is where I find hope.