As I was going about my Saturday I became engrossed in listening to a local radio station regarding a conversation about the HIV/AIDS “epidemic” in the black community. What 1st caught my attention was this statement, “Among women living with AIDS 64% are African American.” I immediately turned up the volume because I knew I had misunderstood what I heard. How could this statement be true? How could black women be the leading number of HIV/AIDS cases in the entire United States? This statement was hard for me to comprehend until I heard this, “HIV is no longer a gay disease, but a Black disease.” Where were they getting this information from? And was it true? As I continued to listen to the interview I learned Saturday, February 7, 2009 was National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day "Black Life is Worth Saving!". I remembered during my social work program hearing talk about increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS cases in the black community, but today I felt like I was so out of touch with the severity of the situation. African Americans account for nearly ½ of the AIDS cases in America (49%). The reality is similar for children: HIV/AIDS affects African American children the most. In 2005, 104 of the 166 children (63%) diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were African American. As statistic after statistic was read the information became more disheartening and I became afraid for myself, Madison, my friends and family. At the close of the segment they encouraged listeners to do their part and make a difference! I thought what could I do? So hear goes...
#1 - Since I was a hot thang back in the day...I started requesting an HIV/AIDS test during my yearly pap smear.
#2 - Encourage my friends to get tested NOW! Let’s all become part of the “Test 1 Million” movement and be counted as 1 million African Americans tested for HIV by June 27, 2010. Find a local testing site at http://www.blackaids.org/and enter your zip code. “Knowing your HIV status can save your life, and every one of us has a responsibility to ourselves and our communities to know our status and to talk with our family members and loved ones about their status. AIDS in America today is a Black disease. Nobody wants to talk about that, and nobody wants to own that. That silence is killing us.” -Black AIDS Institute Executive Director & Founder Phill Wilson
#3 - During our juicy conversations I will now be the official “HI HATER!” on having unprotected sex with anyone before you see their current HIV/AIDS test results.
#4 - Pray that my closest peeps continue to be smart and safe during their “Sexy Can I” moments and don’t let any man talk you into doing something you already know “…you’d get talked about for…” ;-)
So let's all do our part and care enough to share with others!
