Comments on: HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Black Community – It’s Official

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:00:37 +0000

Wow this really is sad on so many levels for me. I am a Ugandan American and a DMV resident. All this is really scary to me and what’s even scarier is that it seems like things are only going to get worse. There are so many complex reasons why this is happening and so much that needs to be done to attack them. It goes beyond race, economics, etc. One issue I think really needs to be attacked is homophobia in the black community. We need to stop making homosexual brothas feel afraid to come out by being so openly anti-gay. If brothas weren’t so afraid to be found out they wouldn’t be so careless with their sexual activities and mess around with infected men and pass the disease on to women. I know its more complex than that but this is one issue that I think really needs to be addressed. Immediately.

By: Carmen D.

Carmen D. — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:47:36 +0000

Hello AlivenKickn, thank you for your comment. You are exactly right! The virus only cares about opportunity not skin color, financial status, gender – nothing. It is a cunning, ruthless SOB!

By: alivenkickn

alivenkickn — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:01:29 +0000

Actually it doesn`t matter if you´re yellow, black, white or green. The Virus doesn`t care if you´re gay, lesbian, transgender, hetero, drug user, man, woman or a child. Be responsible for yourself and protect yourself if you have Sex with any partner you don´t know. If you live in an relationship – show responsibility for yourself – your partner. If you´re HIV positive – protect yourself when having sex with someone you don´t know. If you´re on medication with vl under the detection limit as per EKAF Statement Prof. Pietro Vernazza . . . well even than talk about it.

By: All About Race: It’s Official-There’s An HIV Epidemic in the Black Community | Pop + Politics

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:30:39 +0000

[...] This post originally appeared on Carmen Dixon’s blog All About Race. [...]

By: Carmen D.

Carmen D. — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:51:08 +0000

Hi Kjen, thank you for taking time to leave a comment. Yes it is true that EVERYONE is in potential danger but perception is reality. If those of us engaged in non-risky behavior don’t believe it can happen to us then we will not clamor for resources to be allocated for fighting HIV/AIDS. There IS an epidemic raging in the black community. You can be put off by this fact if you want to, but I refuse to stop talking about it. If one person decides to use condoms or dental dams after reading my post then my objective will have been achieved.

SILENCE=DEATH

By: Kjen

Kjen — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:43:52 +0000

Back to why the rates are increasing — the general consensus is that people aren’t sure. But one of the more compelling articles I read listed among drug users, was the increase of prison population (which has a very high infection rate for various reasons), the increase of having concurrent partners, etc.

But what it all boiled down to is practicing safe sex. Currently “safe sex” is seen as finding someone you “trust” and having unprotected sex with them. Thus all the emphasis on spotting cheating behaviors in your partner, and by all means how to tell if they are on the down low or not. I can understand, in a way, why getting people to practice safe sex. It’s seen as a way of saying you don’t trust the words coming out of your partners mouth. You can imagine the reaction I got when I suggested that everyone who is sexually active should at least get tested to a group of married women
N.E. Way, we have to make “safe sex” seem cool again without any negative connatations.
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Oh and I’m getting more than a little tired of all these articles showcasing the new face/victim population of AIDS. I’ve read articles about the elderly, migrant workers, Blacks, Hispanics, young people, women….People read them and if they aren’t in the immediate population, they’ll get complacent, thinking they’re exempt even from the epidemic. The message has to be pushed that EVERYONE is in potential danger.

By: RXB

RXB — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:17:22 +0000

We can stem this Epidemic by not making this a “black disease”. Apparently we didn’t learn from the results of calling this a “gay disease”, it was allowed to spread into the straight community. Do you believe we’re going to get anyone to shed tears for us if it is a “black problem”? In the 21st century we as a people are still viewed as less than, because of that AIDS/HIV needs to attacked as a universal problem. I ‘m from Los angeles and I remember gangs and drive bys weren’t considered a issue until it spilled out of the “black community” I’m not being negative, but history has proven that a “black problem” has to be seen as a universal problem. If not no one cares.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:55:18 +0000

I’m still stuck on this comment:

“The “black community” is a creation of white racism.”

As far as AIDS/HIV, it’s a global problem…regardless of color. If studies are revealing that this disease is growing within a particular race, then we should ALL take that seriously.

AIDS/HIV Awareness campaigns seem to be waning and this alarming study might resurrect slogans of SAFE SEX, etc.

By: Carmen D.

Carmen D. — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:54:19 +0000

RXB, who said anything about promiscuity being “our nature”? Please read my comment and the post closely. I argue that these are reckless choices being made.

And as far as study size, I am sure you know that is how data and studies are done. Results are extrapolated from samples. Are they reliable? Sometimes. Still, I do volunteer work and I can tell you there is a crisis of lack of self esteem among the young black (and Latino) girls I meet.

RXB, let’s move to the positive. What are YOUR ideas about how to stem this epidemic?

By: RXB

RXB — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:55:14 +0000

Remember the study that concludes 50% of all black teens have an STD was based on a study group of a small at risk population It would be like talking to 4 black men and finding that 2 are unemployed could I conclude 50% of black males are unemployed? Here’s a question , how many whites infected make it a white disease? It’s interesting when it’s white it the failing of an individual, but for blacks it just our nature.Another part of the 21st century mindset is to stop allowing ourselves to be viewed as an animal to be studied. Our chldren deserve more than that.