• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

'The Other City' Spotlights AIDS In DC

There are two Washington DC's--the Capitol that is reflected in the media, and the other that is never talked about--the city with a ballooning HIV/AIDS rate, which is the highest in the United States. On April 26, in a packed room at the Ninth Annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, hundreds were glued to the screen, as the raw, tear-jerking documentary "The Other City" highlighted testimonies of people living with HIV/AIDS. Lawmakers, community activists, journalists, and public health officials were also featured expressing their concerns over the pandemic, such as the importance of the government allowing the exchange of used needles for clean ones to help lower the risk of spreading the virus....
By Jenisha Watts · Updated October 29, 2020
the-other-city-475x350.jpg
There are two Washington DC’s–the Capitol that is reflected in the media, and the other that is never talked about–the city with a ballooning HIV/AIDS rate, which is the highest in the United States. On April 26, in a packed room at the Ninth Annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, hundreds were glued to the screen, as the raw, tear-jerking documentary “The Other City” highlighted testimonies of people living with HIV/AIDS. Lawmakers, community activists, journalists, and public health officials were also featured expressing their concerns over the pandemic, such as the importance of the government allowing the exchange of used needles for clean ones to help lower the risk of spreading the virus. After the film, several panelists–such as the director, Susan Koch, US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Women’s Media Center President Jehmu Greene, journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, and amFAR Chairman Kenneth Cole–lined the stage to discuss the film’s topic, while CNN’s Roland Martin moderated. Dr. Benjamin, dressed in uniform, said she had a hard time watching the documentary because it hit home. “My brother died of AIDS a few years ago,” she said looking directly to the audience. Adding, the film is still good to watch.    “The Other City” was produced by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson. “I wanted to really put a human face to this disease so that Americans can see real people and what the real suffering is all about,” explains Johnson. “I think we, as a society, and the media tend to trivialize the pain and suffering that these people are going through. I think it is not just in Washington, I think that every city is really divided into two: you have the affluent, powerful side, and then you have those people that are living in poverty in the shadows.” She continues, “I would like this movie to become the educational tool and the wake-up call for Americans across this nation. I want to put this debate back in the hands of Congress to start passing laws on needle exchange and for them to stop thinking that this disease is going to melt away.” Related stories:
  • National AIDS Month: HIV Activist Shares Her Story
  • HIV Positive Inmates Forced To Wear Armbands In Jail
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now