Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993

The AIDS epidemic had torn its way through the United States in the early 1980s. The virus had been misdiagnosed by the medical establishment and was ignored by the United States government. Initially, the disease was downplayed as only afflicting gay males; however, the paradigm shifted as women and children were soon diagnosed. By 1987, thousands had died and countless more were sickened.

However, many more would die if people in authority didn’t stand up and do something. ACTUP(AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) fought for recognition of the crisis of AIDS, but also to find treatment for men and women. The past has portrayed the advocates for AIDS reform as limited to gay men. Let The Record Show illustrates that ACTUP consisted of an abundance of men and women, of all races and creeds, who fought to alter the deadly status quo.

Let the Record Show possesses many attributes of a definitive oral history: an eclectic cast of people recalling the shared successes and travails of an activist movement. Author Sarah Schulman had her work cut out for her in representing the various people who played a role in AIDS activism, but the final product more than speaks for itself. An outstanding work.