A review by eriknoteric
Hold Tight Gently: Michael Callen, Essex Hemphill, and the Battlefield of AIDS by Martin Duberman
5.0
I honestly cannot emphasize enough just how important Martin Duberman’s contribution to the growing collection of books on the history of the AIDS crisis is. Using the stories of two of the crisis’ most important figures, Michael Callen and Essex Hemphill, Duberman gives a meticulous and detailed telling of the history of the crisis from the discovery in the early 80s to the discovery of protease inhibitors in December 1995.
What makes this book so important, though, is its intersectional engagement with the history it discusses. Duberman doesn’t back down from confronting the ways in which white gays failed gay POCs and does so in a way that gives credit where credit is due, but also acknowledges the racism, classism, and failures that stemmed from the assimilationist practices of many of the activist circles.
A must read history of the AIDS crisis that is groundbreaking.
What makes this book so important, though, is its intersectional engagement with the history it discusses. Duberman doesn’t back down from confronting the ways in which white gays failed gay POCs and does so in a way that gives credit where credit is due, but also acknowledges the racism, classism, and failures that stemmed from the assimilationist practices of many of the activist circles.
A must read history of the AIDS crisis that is groundbreaking.