The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America

De: David Levithan, Gabriel Duckels

A thoughtful, poignant look at the AIDS crisis in the United States that includes primary source interviews, history, medical research, and cultural touchpoints.

The AIDS crisis in America is complex and composed of countless individual stories of grief, love, and advocacy. Its history shows the power of youth activism, how creativity and community can be vehicles for social change, and how bigotry and misinformation led to inequality in care.

The early days of the AIDS crisis saw LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities making strides in the fight for equality. As many people in positions of power were slow to act or actively didn’t pay attention until their own communities were affected, the fight for equality turned into a fight for their lives. Grassroots efforts filled in gaps where mainstream medicine and politics failed, and over time, a cultural shift of awareness emerged, which led to more research and more treatments. And while the disease has transitioned from a death sentence to one that people can live full lives with, there are still people dying of HIV/AIDS today because they can’t access the care they need. The fight may have begun decades ago, but is not yet over.

Award-winning author David Levithan and University of Cambridge PhD Gabriel Duckels detail a brief history of the epidemic, touching on key moments and figures, such as Ryan White, ACT UP, Larry Kramer and Anthony Fauci, Pedro Zamora from MTV’s The Real World, and the Names Quilt. Threaded throughout are poems, essays, and other creative works, in addition to first-person interviews and narratives. The most important takeaway is that we must remember. We need to know what happened and why. Our voices are powerful, and they can make a difference.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“I was a pre-teen during the AIDS Crisis. I watched my neighbors and family members disappear, first at the hands of judgement, then at the hands of the illness—a double death—and I wish I would’ve had this book to help me understand what was happening, so that I might better know how to fight and love.” —Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

"Bobby was my high school boyfriend, my first love. He came out in college, and a few years later he died because of AIDS. I read this remarkable, groundbreaking book with him right by my side. The Fight of Our Lives is a comprehensive yet accessible narrative, a moving and detailed look at the crisis that defined a generation. Levithan and Duckels’ extensive research--scientific, political and cultural—is truly impressive. The many personal narratives--of patients and activists, survivors and victims, doctors and scientists, parents, siblings, and children--will stay with me forever.” —Deborah Heiligman, National Book Award finalist author of Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America (A Love Story)

"This thoughtful and thorough book captures both the magnitude of the AIDS crisis and its personal intimacy. Full of heartache and sass, science and humanity. A towering achievement." —Eliot Schrefer, National Book Award finalist author of Queer Ducks (And Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality