HIV/AIDS: A Pestilence within the Land

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Matthew 24:7 (KJV)

It is with great anxiety that I sit to write this piece. It has been weeks now since I viewed the ABC Primetime news special entitled, “Out of Control: AIDS in Black America. The research for this special was initiated by Peter Jennings prior to his transition. I thank him for his work.

I initially looked upon this show with great skepticism and tried to punch holes in the journalism and its applied research integrity. Unconsciously, I wanted to find a flaw in the show in order to deny or cast doubt on what I was hearing about African-Americans-my people. As I watched an acute sadness came over me. I was both shocked and revolted by the statistics and the countless stories of senseless death that has resulted from the spread of HIV/AIDS in the black community.

Trying to see the big picture, I thought to myself, why are they targeting Black America in this program when HIV/AIDS is a major medical issue that impacts every race and ethnic group that claims the United States as home? African-Americans are not the only people here that live with HIV/AIDS and we are definitely not the only group of people engaging in unprotected sexual practices and intravenous drug abuse. So why us?

Shortly thereafter all of these questions and thoughts no longer mattered. What I quickly realized and accepted as new “again” was that HIV/AIDS is killing Black America. Let me say that again another way, neither stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, cancer or violent crimes, respectively, is killing African-Americans at the alarming rate of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS moves in the shadows, it is slow and deceptive, yet progressive and ongoing in its pursuit to ultimately annihilate it host. This is not a dooms day scenario or some conspiracy theory – this is a hard fact that we as a people must have the courage to recognize as truth.

In August 2005, Foreign Affairs magazine in an article entitled The Lessons of HIV/AIDS, stated, “AIDS has killed at least 26 million people, orphaning more than 12 million children and today the virus afflicts 40 million people directly.” This means that just two short years ago over 78 million people were directly impacted by HIV/AIDS. So as exposed in the Primetime special, why do we as African Americans continue to engage in life threatening sexual behaviors? Does life mean less to us as Africans/African Americans than it does to other people throughout the world? Does instant sexual gratification more than compensate for the potential death and suffering that could result from an unprotected moment of pleasure?

Many attempt to blame the seemingly untamable spread of HIV/AIDS in Black America on (1) arrogance and ignorance, (2) the erosion of the black family nucleus and values, (3) bisexuality and/or “down low” behavior, (4) the lack of leadership (religious, political, social and educational) (5) poverty and drug abuse, (6) hip hop music and videos (hyper-sexuality) and the list goes on and on and on. I believe each of these plays an important part in this dilemma. I choose not to judge or cast blame I only want us to look at the facts. Because my heart is heavy, I am writing to plead with each of you to pick up right where you are and let’s begin to fight the proliferation and spread of this carnivorous virus and disease. Our people are dying slow and agonizing deaths, our children are being orphaned and many turned to the streets to fend for themselves. In our families and communities, the whispers continue to echo as if there is an ongoing plan to over through the over seer and escape to freedom – when actually it is but our gossip about the taboo topic of HIV/AIDS that has ravaged yet another one of our loved ones and destroyed another black family. This is an unforgiving and radical disease that takes no prisoners, is not a respecter of person or religion and has but two true objectives – (1) to DEVOUR its host and (2) SPREAD. Is that not enough to awaken us – No, well please read on.
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The Primetime special included a segment in which Peter Jennings interviewed a circle of Black men in Atlanta who confessed that they were homosexuals and were a part of the down low sub-culture (homosexual men living and portraying themselves as heterosexuals) and engaging in risky and often times unprotected sexual behavior. These men also confessed that they were either married to women or engaged in long term committal relationships with women. They lived their lives day to day as heterosexual men in an effort to avoid the whispers discussed above, the unwanted labels, mischaracterizations and the ridicule of friends, family and others.

Yet, these men could not deny who they were or to what segment of the population they found themselves to be attracted. They admitted that they followed the desires of their hearts and “chose” to engage in sexual relationships with multiple male partners. These men engaged in homosexual intercourse, often time unprotected while still involved in their committal relationships with their unsuspecting wives and/or girlfriends. It is the undisputable truth that they were unfaithful and there is no excuse for such behavior. But, while being unfaithful is not a good thing, it did not cause the spread of the disease – the willingness of ALL of the parties involved to make the decision to engage in unprotected sexual behavior (in and outside of their respective relationships) led to the senseless spread of the virus and disease and the subsequent deaths of these women. Yes, they died! Are you shocked? You should be, just as I am! But as the old saying goes, “Familiarity breeds complacency.” We have heard these stories so much and for so long they seem to be of little to no effect anymore. Let the stories of these women, their lives, love, suffering and deaths not be in vain. WAKE UP NOW!!!

These women, TRUSTED their mates and CHOSE to engage in unprotected sex in the sanctity of marriage and in other committal relationships (just as many of us) and the results were the same – DEATH. I believe most of us can recall a time when we also engaged in risky behavior or unsafe sexual practices. If that is the case and less than ten years have passed, then you may still be at risk of being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and those who you engaged in unprotected sex with subsequent to that encounter are also at risk of being diagnosed with the virus or syndrome. The message I am attempting to convey is simple. Each and every person whether they read this entry or not, whether you are liberal or conservative, black or white, heterosexual or homosexual, religious or agnostic, young or old must do their part to stop the spread of this virus and disease in its tracks by taking full responsibility for his or her own sexual decisions, behavior and practices. Make the decision and commitment NOW to either be abstinent and/or to no longer engage in risky unprotected sexual behavior.

To reiterate, in 2005 over 40 million people were estimated to live with HIV. OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE!!! Many of these 40 million appreciate each and every moment of their lives and they actively work in the struggle to eliminate the proliferation of this virus and disease. Nevertheless, there is another segment of this 40 million who choose to deny their diagnosis and carry on their lives as if they are virus and/or disease free. They take on the policy of the military, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In other words, if you do not ask if your potential sexual partner is HIV positive or when was the last time they were tested, they will not tell. Further, as demonstrated above, many of us may have good intentions but in the heat of passion or up against extreme cultural and social pressures, all human beings are subject to tell a little lie. These little lies or omissions are costing us our lives.

Another alarming issue is the behavior of our children and young adults ages 18 through 35. I recently was inspired to speak with quite a few young men and women in various relaxed social setting who admitted that they willingly engaged in unprotected sex in the last 12 months with casual acquaintances. Most of these individuals claimed also to be in committal relationships and were looking towards marriage. When I ask why they engaged in the risky sexual practices, most simply shrugged their shoulders and insinuated that they got caught up in the moment. None of the individuals I spoke with have had an HIV/AIDS test since their unprotected sexual encounter and they have subsequently been sexually active with their committal partners. Now, how scary and scandalous is that? This is not a joke – this is life or death.

CALL TO ACTION:

If you are going to engage in sexual intercourse, buy and use condoms, not some of the times, but each and every time. This simple decision has been elevated to a matter of life and death – please choose life. We must wage war against the casual exchange of bodily fluids via unsafe sex practices and intravenous drug use. Keeping it real, in the heat of passion is probably one of the most difficult times to take a moment and think rationally. But no matter how hard it may seem, the potentially tragic and unnecessary passing or acquiring of HIV/AIDS is much more difficult to deal with and it impacts so many more people. Each of us must summon up the courage to have our blood tested for the presence of the virus. I know, we have all heard it before – but SO WHAT hear it again – I challenge you to do it – proudly get your blood test. I also challenge each person reading this message to challenge at least 10 more people to be tested for HIV/AIDS. Start with your family and members of your inner most social circle. Collectively, we can substantially reduce and hopefully at some point in the future totally prevent the spread of this virus and disease.

I am not an expert in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, but I do believe that each of us has been empowered to fight the spread of this virus and disease – this is my initial attempt at doing just that. Nevertheless, please do your own research and make a difference starting with you and your mate, your family and your community. For your convenience, please find below is a list of important links that can assist in your understanding of HIV/AIDS and the prevention of the same.

Please make a decision to make a difference by passing this important message and link on to at least five (5) people – NOW. Peace and Love – Yours in the Struggle . . .

Important Links Related to HIV/AIDS:

AIDSinfo
AIDS Survival Project
AIDS Treatment Data Network
AIDS Treatment Initiatives (ATI)
American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR)
American Social Health Association Resource Center
Body, The
CDC
ChildKind, Inc.
Correctional HIV Consortium
Critical Path AIDS Project
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Emory/Atlanta Center for AIDS Research
Families USA
GA Division of Public Health (DHR)
Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)
Gender and HIV/AIDS
Global Campaign for Microbicides
Hepatitis Information (American Liver Foundation)
HIVdent
Internationa Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
JAMA
Kaiser Family Foundation
Medscape HIV/AIDS
NAMES Project
National AIDS & Education Services for Minorities
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Minority AIDS Council
National Tuberculosis Center Information Line
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
POZ Magazine
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US
Southeast AIDS Training and Education Center
Straight But Not Narrow
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Until There’s A Cure</a

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Tags: aids, blacks, dying, hiv, pestilence, sex