Black and living with HIV/AIDS. Documentary premieres on West Side

Can epidemic be eliminated by 2030?

By MICHELLE MEYER Austin Talks

Over 100 people gathered at Malcom X College recently – on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – for the premiere of the Chicago Department of Public Health’s documentary “HIV and the Journey Toward Zero.”

The film, in partnership with Tessa Films, highlights six Chicagoans living with HIV/AIDS. Through their stories, the one-hour long documentary shows the history and future of HIV/ AIDS in Chicago.

City health data shows that AIDS diagnoses are at its lowest since 1985 and HIV cases rose just under 2% in 2021 from 2020. But Black Chicagoans are disproportionally affected – over half of the new AIDS diagnoses in 2021 were among Black Chicagoans.

The film, directed by Chan C. Smith, aims to highlight diverse stories of people affected by HIV while showcasing the latest treatments and CDPH’s goal to reach zero new HIV/AIDS cases by 2030. See