Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1983. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - August 30, 1983
Can anyone imagine what embarrassment and shame are attached to these people the minute they have to identify themselves? It is unbelievable that so many scientists in the health fields propound such shoddy medical assumptions. The New York City Health Commissioner took a humane and also a sound scientific position by removing Haitians from the city's list of major AIDS risk groups.
What makes this whole thing very suspicious to me is that my careful search of statistics offered by the news media, where any racial categorization of a derogatory nature will be gleefully highlighted, failed to reveal a single breakdown by race. If those few stricken Haitians were classified simply as black (only Haitians in this country are being counted) we would not have destroyed the reputation of these proud people. I believe, on the other hand, that we have not been given the racial statistics because they are political dynamite. The Times is to be commended for its excellent coverage of this topic. You are making a major contribution to educating the public about AIDS. Any intelligent person who carefully analyzes the articles you have published will agree with the New York Health Commissioner that extreme caution needs to be taken when such harmful ethnic designations are made.
830830
NYT830813
Copyright © 1983 - The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved. All New York Times articles contained on the AEGiS web site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of The New York Times Company. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. However, you may download articles (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal, noncommercial use only.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1983. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1983. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .