Description
Book Synopsis: All The Young Men, a gripping and triumphant tale of human compassion, is the true story of Ruth Coker Burks, a young single mother in Hot Springs, Arkansas, who finds herself driven to the forefront of the AIDS crisis, and becoming a pivotal activist in America’s fight against AIDS.
In 1986, 26-year old Ruth visits a friend at the hospital when she notices that the door to one of the hospital rooms is painted red. She witnesses nurses drawing straws to see who would tend to the patient inside, all of them reluctant to enter the room. Out of impulse, Ruth herself enters the quarantined space and immediately begins to care for the young man who cries for his mother in the last moments of his life. Before she can even process what she’s done, word spreads in the community that Ruth is the only person willing to help these young men afflicted by AIDS, and is called upon to nurse them. As she forges deep friendships with the men she helps, she works tirelessly to find them housing and jobs, even searching for funeral homes willing to take their bodies – often in the middle of the night. She cooks meals for tens of people out of discarded food found in the dumpsters behind supermarkets, stores rare medications for her most urgent patients, teaches sex-ed to drag queens after hours at secret bars, and becomes a beacon of hope to an otherwise spurned group of ailing gay men on the fringes of a deeply conservative state.
Throughout the years, Ruth defies local pastors and nurses to help the men she cares for: Paul and Billy, Angel, Chip, Todd and Luke. Emboldened by the weight of their collective pain, she fervently advocates for their safety and visibility, ultimately advising Governor Bill Clinton on the national HIV-AIDS crisis.
This deeply moving and elegiac memoir honors the extraordinary life of Ruth Coker Burks and the beloved men who fought valiantly for their lives with AIDS during a most hostile and misinformed time in America.
Details
Experience the extraordinary true story of Ruth Coker Burks and her remarkable journey in All The Young Men. This gripping and triumphant tale of human compassion will touch your heart and leave you inspired. Join Ruth as she becomes a pivotal activist in America’s fight against AIDS, defying all odds to bring hope and love to those affected by the crisis.
Step back in time to 1986, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Ruth, a young single mother, walks into a hospital room painted red, a symbol of fear and uncertainty. She witnesses the hesitation of nurses to care for AIDS patients and decides to take matters into her own hands. Without hesitation, she becomes their caregiver, comforting the dying and offering solace in their darkest moments.
Word spreads quickly about Ruth's selfless acts of kindness, and she becomes the only person in her community willing to support these young men afflicted by AIDS. As she forges deep friendships with the men she helps, Ruth tirelessly fights for their housing, job opportunities, and even proper burial arrangements.
From cooking meals out of discarded food to teaching sex education at secret bars, Ruth goes above and beyond to ensure the well-being of those on the fringes of a deeply conservative society. She becomes a beacon of hope, guiding her friends through the pain and uncertainty of their lives.
This deeply moving and elegiac memoir sheds light on a pivotal time in American history, showcasing Ruth's unwavering determination to challenge societal norms and fight for the rights and visibility of those affected by HIV-AIDS. Through her inspiring acts, Ruth becomes an advocate for change, even advising Governor Bill Clinton on the national HIV-AIDS crisis.
Don't miss out on All The Young Men, a captivating story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Experience Ruth Coker Burks's journey through a deeply misinformed and hostile time in America and be inspired by her courage and compassion. Get your copy now and join the fight for a better world.
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