HIV/AIDS Still a Crisis in African American Community: Get Tested, Get Educated, Get Involved

In my early career as an HIV/AIDS counselor for Minority AIDS Project I was sitting in my office one day and received an urgent call from a young lady I personally knew from church. I left my office and immediately went to her home where I found her in the dark on the floor in the fetal position. She was crying and screaming hysterically saying that she wanted to die. Water welled in my eyes as she told me her story.

Three years prior, while in her seventh month of pregnancy, Jane went to her doctor for routine prenatal treatment. What she found out at that doctor's visit changed her life forever. Test results revealed that she had HIV. The diagnosis threw her into a complete state of shock and denial. Unbeknownst to her, she had contracted the virus from her husband, whom she had just married. For three years she suffered in silence with the knowledge that she had the virus. The stigma of AIDS paralyzed her into silence, preventing her from telling anyone, including her mother or her husband and from seeking the treatment she so badly needed.

I was in tears as I listened to this once vibrant, energetic young 23 year-old woman speak candidly about the loneliness, desolation, despair, fear and desperation that she was experiencing.

Jane's story was nothing new. I had heard similar stories over and over again. But no matter how many times you hear it, it still touches you deeply. She is just one of thousands of young black women whose lives have been dramatically altered by AIDS and the HIV virus and in some cases who have died.

HIV/AIDS has no respect of person. This equal opportunity disease is the leading cause of death among African American women aged 25-34 years, living in the United States. Although African Americans make up only about 13 percent of the United States population we account for almost half (49 percent) of the people who contract HIV and AIDS.

In 2009, an estimated 16,741 African Americans were diagnosed with AIDS in the United States; thankfully, that number has slowly decreased since 2006. However, by the end of 2008, an estimated 240,627 Blacks with an AIDS diagnosis had died in the US. In 2007, HIV was the ninth leading cause of death for all Blacks and the third leading cause of death for both Black men and Black women aged 35–44. Unfortunately, many of those who are infected with HIV are unaware of their status and may unknowingly transmit the virus to others, as was the case with Jane.

The rate of AIDS diagnosis for Black women is approximately 23 times the rate for white women and four times the rate for Latina women. In 2006, teen girls represented 39 percent of AIDS cases reported among 13 to 19 year-olds. Black teens represented 69 percent of cases reported among 13 to 19 year-olds; Latino teens represented 19 percent.

When we look at HIV/AIDS by race and ethnicity, Blacks have more illness and more deaths due to HIV and AIDS than any other race. The AIDS diagnosis rate per 100,000 among Black adults/adolescents was nine times that of whites in 2008. The AIDS diagnosis rate for Black men (85.5) was the highest of the group, followed by Black women (39.9). By comparison, the rate among white men was 10%. The rate of new infections is also highest among Blacks and was seven times greater than the rate among whites in 2006.

We see the issue as one of being female, we desire and need love and base relationships on what we see on television and movies. We need as women to be in a relationship that we feel makes us "complete." We trust our lovers to protect us however, we must become empowered and trust no one when it comes to our health and love. The key is to love yourself enough to protect yourself - ask questions, examine relationships with a knowledgeable eye, investigate your situation. Every one of us should be standing inline to enroll in an HIV Awareness class to become informed and in turn share the information with your girl friends. It is important that we understand the definition of risky behavior, the necessity of being aware of the facts, participate in health education classes and know how and where to obtain an HIV test.

February 7, 2012 is designated as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). This national HIV/AIDS testing and treatment community mobilization initiative is designed to encourage Blacks across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved, and get treated.

When it comes to community and organization leadership, we need everyone to get involved. From the pulpit to the streets, we need people from all walks of life, economic classes, literacy levels, shades and tones to get connected to the work happening on the ground in their local areas. And lastly, for those living with HIV or newly testing positive for the virus, getting them connected to treatment and care services is paramount.

HIV/AIDS awareness is a priority of the National Council of Negro Women Los Angeles View Park Section. We are a part of the CDC's Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), which seeks to harness the collective strength and reach of traditional, longstanding African-American institutions to increase HIV-related awareness, knowledge, and action within black communities across the United States. NCNW View Park is a partnering organization with the National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day Coalition Los Angeles to help increase HIV/AIDS community awareness, involvement and education among marginalized populations. NCNW VP annually coordinates educational HIV/AIDS workshops and seminars for women and youth. We also host an HIV/AIDS Co-Ed Support Group. The support group allows an anonymous space for persons affected and infected with HIV/AIDS to talk about challenges and receive needed resource referrals.

As part of our campaign to educated the community about HIV/AIDS we will also be sponsoring a "The Red Ribbon Affair" event on March 10, 2012, in honor of National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This event will be the "kick off" for more than 18 local women and girls organizations and affiliates and 2 Fraternal Organizations to participate in reaching out to their social circle to heighten knowledge levels as it relates to HIV AIDS/STDs and non- planned pregnancy. The campaign year will culminate on Women & Girls HIV Awareness Day 2013 with the organization reaching the highest number of individuals being awarded the "Angel City Rocks" trophy.

I want to urge everyone to get involved in the campaign against HIV/AIDS. Let us all be educated and informed. We are at a frightening crossroad without adequate warning signals – let us join the campaign and become the warning signals or lose many, many lives and therefore our valuable future.

(Carolynn Martin is currently the president of the View Park Section of the National Council of Negro Women Inc. Southern California Area. She is and has always been a community advocate and activist and is dedicated to the mission of the National Council of Negro Women Inc. She currently works in the field of HIV/AIDS as a program director and brings this expertise to NCNW. NCNW has a world wide interest in the effects of HIV/AIDS on communities of color and this focus is locally supported by View Park. Martin-Person is also the co-chair for the National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day Coalition Los Angeles. She can be reached at the NCNW View Park office at 323-301-4697 by email at cmartin@ncnwviewpark.org, or visit www.ncnwviewpark.org.)

Saving Ourselves Sisters Program SOS
HIV/AIDS & STD Education Prevention Series Recruiting Remarkable Girls 12-18 Years of Age

Learn About self-love as a key aspect of protecting oneself from being infected with or transmitting the HIV/AIDS virus.

Learn Ways to look within and recognize the enormous pride that exists in being both Black and female, embrace the opportunity to build ethnic and gender-related strengths, weaknesses, behaviors and thoughts.

For Registration call 323-301-4697 - National Council of Negro Women Los Angeles View Park Section

Each Person Completing the 8 Hour Course will receive a VISA Redeemable for $50

Click HERE to see photos of SOS Workshop II

Click HERE for
Black HIV Summit Report
Los Angeles Region
September 2003