Final answer:
The 1987 AIDS Quilt, known as the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, was created to commemorate those who died of AIDS-related causes and to raise awareness of the epidemic. It served as a form of collective mourning, community solidarity, and a visual symbol for advocacy and remembrance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purpose of the 1987 AIDS Quilt
The 1987 AIDS Quilt, officially known as the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, was intended to serve as a powerful visual memorial for those who had died from AIDS-related causes. Created by activist Cleve Jones and members of the NAMES Project Foundation, the quilt's purpose was to both express private grief and raise public awareness about the AIDS epidemic. Through traditional craft, the quilt allowed individuals, families, and organizations to commemorate loved ones, such as partners, friends, and co-workers, while also calling attention to the scale of the epidemic and advocating for policy change. Initially displayed at the Second National March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights, it included over 1,900 panels. Subsequent additions mushroomed the quilt's size, making it a symbol of both mourning and solidarity. By 2020, the quilt grew to over 50,000 panels, representing over 105,000 lives lost to AIDS. The significance of the AIDS Memorial Quilt has been recognized globally, including through an Academy Award-winning documentary titled Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt.