I’m Still Surviving
Reviewed by: Kelsey Milian
Review started: March 13, 2023
Review last updated: March 13, 2023
Site link
Data and Sources
- Audio records
- Photographs of spaces and locations
- Written text
Processes
- Gathered 39 oral histories of women from New York, Illinois, and North Carolina.
- List of narrators and names is provided in the about authors section
- Historians and graphic designers gathered the 39 oral histories.
Presentation
- Bold red, black, and white banners and quotes
- Clear titles of banners: see, hear, read
- Drop down menu for audio choices
Digital Tools Used
- Currently unknown
Languages
- English
Review
I'm Still Surviving is an engaging site that highlights the stories of women living with HIV/AIDS. It shares the dialogue and histories of these women and long-term survivors.
Selecting “see,” leads you to an option to navigate the stories through a lens that centers women’s narratives, family impact, institutional impact, and highlights censorship/stigma or building healthy worlds. Each page takes the visitors to scrolling pages showcasing the stories of women with HIV/AIDS, that include newspaper clippings and photographs of neighborhoods and spaces. The movement of some of the banners was glitchy, but, despite being a distracting technological issue, it did not impair access to the content.
Under “hear,” audio recordings of the women are searchable via detailed tagging and topic. Visitors can click from the search bar menu and see a range of topics: trauma, identity, disclosure, and healthcare. The audio interview immediately starts to play when clicked, and the name of the speaker is displayed with a quote.
Under “read,” visitors have access to the text narratives related to specific cities in book format: Brooklyn: "I'm a challenger" Chicago: "I'm still surviving" North Carolina: "I'm a warrior." I liked this option very much because the books are available to purchase in hardcover, but are also available for free in accessible pdf format.
Overall, I liked this project very much. I think there is a banner technology glitch that could be fixed, however, the creators successfully met their goals by creating a space where personal stories are elevated. The project TEAM also includes the women whose stories are being shared, giving more autonomy to the oral histories, which I appreciate. I believe there was a focus to center the personal stories of individuals with HIV/AIDS that is less centered on stigma and trauma. However, it would have been helpful if the project included information about HIV/AIDS in general, and a glossary of related terminology, because there is so much scientific discourse that surrounds HIV/AIDS. However, by focusing on the stories of people who live with HIV/AIDS in their own words, the project successfully creates a humanizing connection to them and offers a deeper understanding of their experience.