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On World AIDS Day, the DC Public Library will host the world premiere of “Come Together: Art's Power for Change,” a new documentary that examines the 20-year legacy of the film “Dirty Laundry,” which sparked national conversations about homophobia and HIV in the Black community.
Actor Terri J. Vaughn will reunite with filmmakers Nathan Hale Williams and Crystal McCrary McGuire for a live talkback following screenings of both the new documentary and the original film.
Directed by Nathan Hale Williams, "Come Together: Art's Power for Change" explores how art shapes culture and drives social progress through the lens of the film *Dirty Laundry.* The documentary details the challenges and triumphs faced by Black TV and film creators in the early 2000s when developing projects about the Black queer community. Through interviews with cast members, producers Williams and Crystal McCrary McGuire, the documentary reveals the behind-the-scenes struggles of marketing and distributing a film centered on Black queer narratives during that era.
Written and directed by Maurice Jamal, Dirty Laundry tells the story of Patrick (played by Rockmond Dunbar), a successful magazine writer who returns to his small hometown in Georgia when a surprise visitor, a 10-year-old boy claiming to be his son, shows up at his New York apartment. What follows is a tale of the prodigal son, infused with Southern family dynamics, as Patrick confronts his mother, Evelyn (played by Loretta Devine), and his outspoken Aunt Lettuce (played by Jenifer Lewis), while navigating secrets, reconciliation, and the possibility of acceptance.
While the film earned critical recognition, including an NAACP Image Award nomination, its real impact happened in spaces statistics don't measure: family reunions where it sparked difficult conversations, community screenings that led to healing dialogues, HIV prevention workshops that used it as an entry point for discussing stigma and testing.
The film screening and discussion is organized with The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC), an initiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) as a tribute to Maurice Jamal, who passed away in April 2023 at age 52. Jamal's career spanned independent film and television, including "The Ski Trip" series and Logo Network's "Friends & Lovers," but "Dirty Laundry" remains his most culturally significant work.
This event is part of a day-long activation commemorating World AIDS Day. Organized by DC Health, DC Public Library, DC Healthlink, ServeDC, and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the event includes a resource fair, HIV testing, raffles and giveaways, live performances, and free food starting at noon.
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The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) is an initiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). The group was developed to create a coalition of Black-American cultural influencers and health advocates, that through the use of innovative, culturally relevant messaging and initiatives, are revolutionizing outreach to the Black American community and elevating the education and awareness of sexual health and wellness and bringing greater awareness to the social justice issues disproportionately impacting the health and wellness of Black Americans.