In this episode of Shine A Light On It, Anna DeShawn joins Latascha on the dance floor in Chicago. For Latascha, line dancing isn’t just exercise—it’s a celebration of a life she once thought was over.
After being diagnosed in Florida, Latascha spent years feeling like the “walking dead,” navigating a healthcare system that offered housing but no heart, and a family that offered “support” wrapped in stigma. Her journey took her through three states before she landed back home in Chicago and found what she calls her Sisters in the Struggle; a community of survivors who taught her how to live and laugh again.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The State-to-State Struggle: How HIV care differs from Florida to Wisconsin to Illinois.
- The Weight of Stigma: Dealing with “bleach and bubbles” and the misconceptions in the Black community.
- Finding her “Sisters”: The importance of community care and support.
- Reclaiming Happiness: Why Latascha chooses laughter over sadness.
This episode is a masterclass in resilience, the necessity of community, and the power of finding your Sisters in the Struggle.
Latascha’s Mixed Media Exhibit
In this clip hear Latascha describe the crushing weight of HIV stigma, explaining that she ‘would rather have the diagnosis of cancer’ because of the way Black communities whisper about HIV. She shares how her attempts to date were met with family interfering and whispering her status to potential partners.
