Posted on November 03, 2014
I’ve only been part of Generation Tomorrow for several weeks. My blog post will not be able to do justice to all that we’ve experienced so far. We have learned about the many layers of social, ethical, biological and political issues that lead to the spread and persistence of HIV/AIDS in our communities. I have come to greatly appreciate and respect the programs and people who are working hard to tackle these issues and find tangible, equitable solutions.
Two things that I think have best encompassed these concepts have been contextualizing the places and institutions and having humility. The stories that Mr. Jordan White and Dr. Richard Chaisson told about Baltimore and San Francisco really explain why knowing the history of a place is vital to understanding the issues we face. Both cities have social and political histories that shed light on why certain communities have fared better or worse in dealing with the HIV epidemic. These have led to ugly consequences for the community, all of which were largely preventable.
Finally, having humility is a message from Mr. White that I will never forget. Humility is important in every action, but it’s particularly significant in this context as we begin our work with communities that have experienced great health and social disparities. There are people who want to accomplish what Generation Tomorrow does but with far less resources. Being able to help Baltimore, our home, in the ways that we can is a privilege. It’s time to earn it.
