How did DC nurture—and challenge—the artists and writers who lived through the AIDS crisis? And what can DC residents learn from their legacy to help ignite our resistance to the challenges of our own time? 

Join HumanitiesDC and guest curators Kim Roberts and Regie Cabico for Culture Series: Vital Signs: DC and the Poetry of AIDS, a powerful exploration of three groundbreaking poets: Essex Hemphill, Tim Dlugos, and Reinaldo Arenas—each of whom shaped the city’s literary landscape before their lives were cut short by AIDS. This evening of remembrance features a panel discussion with those who knew them best or were deeply influenced by their work. Also featured will be short readings of poems by other DC-based writers lost to AIDS, including Garth Tate, Mary Bowman, Chasen Gaver, and Jim Everhard—bringing more of these powerful voices back into the room. As we face new challenges in public health, social justice, and cultural memory, this event asks the bold question: what can DC residents learn from their legacy to help ignite our resistance to the challenges of our own time?

A handout of selected poems will be available to all attendees. 

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