The Early Days of the HIV/AIDS Crisis in New York

In a new podcast series called Blind Spot: The Plague in the Shadows, journalists Kai Wright and Lizzie Ratner explore the early days of the HIV virus in New York City in the mid-1980s. The podcast focuses on overlooked or misunderstood events of the past that continue to shape the present. One of the main ideas highlighted in the podcast is how the HIV epidemic served as a roadmap for societal inequities, particularly in terms of how marginalized communities were affected and often overlooked. The podcast highlights the importance of understanding the social, political, and economic factors that contributed to the spread of the virus and hindered access to healthcare. It also delves into the initial perception of HIV/AIDS as a predominantly gay disease, and the challenges faced by activists and healthcare professionals in addressing the stigma and changing public messaging about the virus. The podcast further explores how the epidemic disproportionately impacted certain communities, such as children with HIV, and sheds light on the heroic efforts of healthcare workers, like those at Harlem Hospital, who created a sense of family and provided care for children with AIDS during a time of limited resources and immense stigma. Despite advancements in treatment and public awareness, the podcast emphasizes that disparities in access to care and the continued impact of HIV/AIDS on marginalized communities persist to this day.