Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

4-2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

History

Reader 1

Tamara Venit-Shelton

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Abstract

This thesis is looking at analyzing the discrimination that many of those of Haitian descent experienced during the 1980s and 1990s and how their lives were affected at this time. My thesis first provides an overview of the history of the AIDS crisis from the Caribbean, specifically Haiti to the United States, in New York. I then discuss the different support organizations and groups that followed up with those affected by the AIDS crisis who are of Haitian descent and how they were a crucial part of combating the entire disease and what that looked like. I explore how different groups were able to speak up for victims and families who didn’t have a voice. I further look at what some of the responses were by politicians and the public both about the crisis and the different support organizations.

I found that although members of the LGTBQ community and those of Haitian descent within that group had both been targeted due to being seen as the cause of the spread of the AIDS epidemic, each had their own instances of discrimination that further affected their lifestyles. For the community of Haitian descent, they experienced more hardship due to racism and different stereotypes that were thrown around. Many of the support organizations that were able to help out the community were able to come to the consensus that they should still have a voice and have support and treatment options when dealing with the AIDS crisis. This thesis is able to help Afro-Latine groups understand different ways of survival through an impactful epidemic that affected many people.

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