WORLD AIDS DAY !

Friday December 1st is World AIDS Day. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988 to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They have used a red ribbon as the international symbol of HIV for fifteen years. I have decided that I am going to put on my ribbon and wear it everyday until the next World AIDS Day December 1st 2007. Wearing a red ribbon is one of the easiest ways you can make a difference on December 1st. Not just by wearing one yourself, but also encouraging your friends, colleagues and family to wear one as well. If wearing one little ribbon sparks one conversation on this deadly disease then it is well worth wearing.
What are you planning on doing for World AIDS Day? How about going to get tested and taking a friend or your partner with you. I'm tested for HIV every year and by the grace of God I'm clean now I'm not an out there person but I'm sure that everyone has had a moment when they did not use the best judgment and that's all that it takes is a moment. Our community the African American community wants to stay quite about this disease. The church wants to blame it on homosexuality and promiscuity but there is a lot more to it than those two things. We have to start making each other feel comfortable about talking about HIV/AIDS and homosexuality and everything else that is happening in our community. Just because we talk about it does not mean that we condone certain behaviors but it will make it easier for people to come out and be who they are. We have to demand that our pastors speak about the disease not who they think has it or what they think has caused. We need to talk about protection and testing. Abstinence is cool but realistically not everyone is going to practice abstinence’s. We have to start when our kids our young because they are being effected and infected. So please do your part on December 1st talk about it and get tested because knowing is half the battle!

AIDS Facts For African Americans.

HIV/AIDS Epidemic among African Americans,

All data is from static’s found on the Center for Disease Control Website as of 2004 so the numbers will have changed drastically. In 2004 African Americans who make up approximately 12% of the US population, accounted for half of the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed. The break down is as follows of the 38,730 diagnosed in 2004 50% were African American, 30% were Caucasian, 18% were Hispanic, 1% Asian Pacific Islander and 1% American Indian/ Alaska Native.
AIDS is becoming the leading cause of death for African Americans it is the second leading cause of death for All African Americans between the ages of 35-44 and the NUMBER ONE cause of death for African American Women between the ages of 25-34. Of the all most 1 million cases of AIDS diagnosed in the US 40% were African Americans. Of the more than half a million people who have died with AIDS 30% were African American. In 2004 more African American children under the age of 13 were living with AIDS than all other races or ethnicities living with AIDS combined.
We have to ask ourselves why this disease is disproportionately affecting the African American community. The numbers are growing at an alarming rate and this disease (HIV/AIDS) is taking a devastating toll on the African American community. We have to begin to discuss prevention as wells as testing. It is estimated that of the 1 Million AIDS cases in America 25% of those affected are unaware of there status.....

We have to ask why we are not getting tested. What can we do to increase awareness and prevention? What are the leading causes of infection? I am afraid to think of what will happen to us as a race if we continue to ignore this and sweep it under the rug. So let’s do something to change the numbers and wake up our communities. You can either be a part of the problem or a part of the solution.