While in conversation with Tarik Daniels he shares details about The Art Heals Festival, which is a festival that focuses on eliminating the stigma around living with HIV/AIDS. This festival supports all types of art and holds various panels, workshops and speakers. This year Tarik Daniels wants to do more in representing the community to its fullest.
“We want to virtually showcase a variety of art and art forms from a diverse group of people. Our submissions are open now and we looking for, femme folks, fat folks, skinny folks, disabled folks, queer folks, trans folks, etc. to enter their ideas and proposals for this year’s festival. Our goal is to eliminate HIV and mental health stigma by using art to heal and educate”.
Covid is the first global pandemic many people will experience yet in addition to covid many black queer folks are still dealing with the effects of the past HIV epidemic and processing the trauma of the health care system.
“For us, I admit watching COVID-19 evolve into another health epidemic that began to impact black people at alarming rates became very triggering and most of us had to reach into our toolbox to cope with the new trauma that we were experiencing as people living with HIV,” Daniel explains.
The Art Heals Festival this year is hosted and ran by the What’s In The Mirror Organization, a unique organization created by Tarik Daniels.
“When I created the organization back in 2016, I originally called it What’s In Your Mirror? I soon realized that when we wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and see our reflection, what we see is not always who we are. We can’t take claim to what the world put on us but we can work on what we need to live & fulfill mentally healthy lives. I challenge us all to take some time with a reflection that we see and feel when we look in the mirror. Learning to love ourselves is vital. Learning to love others is equally vital.” Tarik remarks.
“What’s in the mirror goes deeper beyond the festival and social advocacy and is committed to finding real solutions. “ WhatsintheMirror, works hard to focus on eliminating stigma and promoting mental wellness for those living with HIV. We advocate for a holistic approach for HIV care that includes taking HIV medicine every day that can lead to undetectable viral load. People who get and keep an undetectable viral load or remain virally suppressed pose no risk of transmitting HIV to their sex partners. Holistic wellness also includes therapy, peer support, counselling, as well as spiritual and communal healing.”
“Although there have been advances in the research and prevention of HIV/AIDS there is still a negative stigma from the general public towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Never mind the systems that have failed us and led to many poor health outcomes for black people. Last year, it was declared that racism was a public health crisis and many folks still ignored the health disparities that have led to the HIV impact on black communities.”
Despite the ignorance and stigma surrounding the conversation HIV/AIDS, Daniels will continue to advocate for all voices using his platform.
“One of the reasons why I wanted to share my story about living with HIV was to show more representation of persons living and thriving with HIV.
HIV has become such a negative burden on the black community that continues to lead to more stigma and unnecessary deaths in our community.”
Learn more by visiting https://whatsinthemirror.org!
Follow Us On Social Media!
