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All The Young Men

Name: All The Young Men
Price: 10.79 USD
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Rating: 4.8 (2069 reviews)

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Book Synopsis: 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.

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Experience the power of compassion with All The Young Men, a gripping and triumphant tale of human resilience. Step into the shoes of Ruth Coker Burks, a young single mother who fearlessly takes on the forefront of the AIDS crisis in Hot Springs, Arkansas. As a pivotal activist in America's fight against AIDS, Ruth's story will leave you inspired and deeply moved.

Transport yourself to 1986, where a chance encounter at a hospital propels Ruth into a world of courage and selflessness. Witness her unyielding commitment as she steps into a quarantined space to care for a young man in his final moments. Ruth's unwavering dedication doesn't stop there; she becomes the lifeline for countless young men afflicted by AIDS, providing them with not only medical care but also housing, jobs, and a sense of belonging.

Join Ruth on her extraordinary journey as she defies societal norms and champions the rights of those often forgotten and marginalized. Discover her tireless efforts to find funeral homes willing to give these men a dignified farewell. Be inspired by her resourcefulness as she turns discarded food into nourishing meals and stores rare medications for her most urgent patients. Ruth becomes a beacon of hope, a friend, and an advocate for ailing gay men on the fringes of a deeply conservative state.

With each turn of the page, you'll bear witness to Ruth's indomitable spirit. As she faces opposition from local pastors and nurses, Ruth fearlessly fights for the safety and visibility of the men in her care. Her unwavering dedication even catches the attention of Governor Bill Clinton, who seeks her counsel on the national HIV-AIDS crisis. Ruth's story is a testament to the power of one person's compassion to change lives and reshape history.

Don't miss this deeply moving and elegiac memoir, which pays homage to the extraordinary life of Ruth Coker Burks. Join her in honoring the beloved men who fought valiantly for their lives during a time of hostility and misinformation in America. Experience the profound impact of compassion and solidarity.

Take the journey with Ruth Coker Burks and the courageous men she fought for.

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