As a young gay man growing up in Jamaica-a country plagued by homophobia-Robert Peter Carr faced numerous challenges. Self-discovery was offset by personal strife as he struggled for years to accept his sexuality. In the face of societal stigma and discrimination, however, his enduring strength and compassion for similarly disenfranchised populations was forged.
This book chronicles Robert's journey from a compassionate young boy to one of the world's leading human rights activists fighting against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Despite moving to Maryland to attend university and becoming a distinguished scholar, Robert harbored a deep fear of rejection for many years. With the love and support of his family and friends, he learned to take pride in his scholarly accomplishments, and he finally came out as homosexual.
His extensive study of subaltern philosophy-issues of poverty and discrimination among societies' marginalized groups-propelled him beyond academia into activism, promoting human rights initiatives in the Caribbean and around the globe. Robert designed advocacy programs and movements while directing the Jamaica Aids Support for Life and the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations.
Written by his father, Peter Reginald Carr, this biography recounts Robert's courageous life and honors his empowering legacy.
About the Author: Peter Reginald Carr is the proud father of Robert Peter Carr. His intimate knowledge based on witnessing years of the trials and tribulations his son endured-both personally and as a renowned activist-inspired this book, which is a celebration of Robert's loving memory and courageous legacy.
Carr was born in Trinidad and Tobago and worked as a senior-level civil servant. In 1970, he joined the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) as a health systems and management consultant. Carr spent twenty-five years with the PAHO/WHO working to improve the health systems of Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Carr retired in 1995 and later served as an independent consultant with international funding agencies, advising countries on health systems and management issues. Additionally, Carr is a senior lecturer with the medical faculty at the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica, in the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry.
