Why We Fight: Remembering AIDS Activism

Why We Fight, presented by the New York Public Library, focuses on the contributions of AIDS activists whose work was undertaken in New York City, which was an early epicenter for both the recognition of the virus and the grassroots response to the crisis.

Historically, the national and international response to the AIDS crisis lagged behind the passionate work of dedicated individuals who tended the sick, challenged prejudices against People with AIDS, educated their communities, and fought for resources and research. In a 1988 speech entitled “Why We Fight,” writer and lifelong activist Vito Russo presciently realized the need to remember the work of these pioneering forces for change:

"AIDS is really a test of us, as a people. When future generations ask what we did in this crisis, we're going to have to tell them that we were out here today. And we have to leave the legacy to those generations of people who will come after us. Someday, the AIDS crisis will be over. Remember that. And when that day comes—when that day has come and gone, there'll be people alive on this earth—gay people and straight people, men and women, black and white, who will hear the story that once there was a terrible disease in this country and all over the world, and that a brave group of people stood up and fought and, in some cases, gave their lives, so that other people might live and be free."

Acknowledging the crucial work of all AIDS activists, Why We Fight focuses on the contributions of those whose work was undertaken in New York City, which was an early epicenter for both the recognition of the virus and the grassroots response to the crisis. The New York Public Library is a major repository for this history, preserving the archives of key organizations and individuals that have been pivotal in the fight against AIDS. All materials, unless otherwise noted, are from the Library’s Manuscripts and Archives Division.