Designated on December 1st every year since 1988, World AIDS Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and for mourning those who have died of the disease. This year’s theme is “global solidarity and shared responsibility,” and is a call for global unification to work together to help beat the coronavirus, end AIDS, and guarantee the right to healthcare for all. You can learn more about World AIDS Day at the UNAIDS website here.
Keith Haring died of AIDS-related complications at the age of 31 on February 16, 1990. Throughout his life he used his art to call attention to social inequity, including the United States government’s disastrous response to the AIDS crisis in the early 1980’s. On December 4th you can stream the new documentary Keith Haring: Street Art Boy as part of PBS American masters series here, and learn about Keith’s life, art, and the efforts he made to confront injustice.
