Black Youth and HIV

When I think of black youth I think of my nieces and nephews growing up in an AIDS free generation. The only thing they should worry about is going to school, making good grades and enjoying life without being concerned if they will acquire HIV. As we embark upon this new era of Treatment as Prevention (TasP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP) in conjunction with condoms we are closer to ending AIDS for our future generation.

While we are getting ready to gear up this initiative we must mobilize our youth to be a part of the solution. Meaning they need to be at the decision making tables (policy), creating programs by and for youth, and mentored into leadership positions. This means, us seasoned community leaders need to step our game up and mentor one or more youth advocates who we can groom to take our positions; as we transition into other areas of interest.

Our black youth are GREATER THAN AIDS!

What if the majority of the population was gay and the minority was heterosexuals and we were stigmatized, talked down upon, treated like we had leprosy and called “heterosexual hag”? It doesn’t feel good does it? In some ways this is how black gay men are treated especially if they are young MSM. A person should not be treated differently because of their sexual orientation, they deserve to be respected and treated with dignity.

The psychological distress of racism, unemployment and discrimination that black men face on a daily basis is enough to make you scream; they may engage in various risk behaviors, such as having sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol as a way of coping which can and have led to high rates of HIV infections in our communities. We as a black community need to do better in loving and accepting our men whether if they are gay, bi or straight. God’s greatest commandment is to love one another. Therefore, by mistreating, stigmatizing and belittling is not love it is lack of compassion, respect and dignity. Think about it put yourself in their shoes, I have!

What if the majority of the population was gay and the minority was heterosexuals and we were stigmatized, talked down upon, treated like we had leprosy and called “heterosexual hag”? It doesn’t feel good does it? In some ways this is how black gay men are treated especially if they are young MSM. A person should not be treated differently because of their sexual orientation, they deserve to be respected and treated with dignity.

The psychological distress of racism, unemployment and discrimination that black men face on a daily basis is enough to make you scream; they may engage in various risk behaviors, such as having sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol as a way of coping which can and have led to high rates of HIV infections in our communities. We as a black community need to do better in loving and accepting our men whether if they are gay, bi or straight. God’s greatest commandment is to love one another. Therefore, by mistreating, stigmatizing and belittling is not love it is lack of compassion, respect and dignity. Think about it put yourself in their shoes, I have!

When the epidemic began in the early 80’s women was not being discussed as a population who were at risk of acquiring HIV. It wasn’t until the early to mid-90 when I heard women becoming infected by this virus. From my point of view women have always been left out of this epidemic until they couldn’t ignore women (Black) dying at alarming rates. It saddens me even today women are still not valued and heard. I say that because supportive services are constantly being cut which are the gate ways for HIV positive women staying in care. For example services like childcare, transportation, emotional and social support groups, mental health (depression, bipolar and trauma) and substance abuse.

For women who do not fit the criteria of having a history of substance abuse, incarceration and multiple partners. More innovative gender specific programs need to be created that can reach this population who are at risk of acquiring HIV if they are not already living with the virus in fear and isolation. It is imperative for primary and secondary prevention programs to be tailored to reach lower to higher socioeconomic income level status. By tailoring messages by and for women from all walks of life women will not be left out of an AIDS Free Generation.

When the HIV epidemic hit in the early 80’s I was a pre-teen still in elementary going into junior high. During that time it was always in the news about how many gay White men were dying and on their death beds. Now we don’t hear about HIV in the news unless there is a celebrity who discloses their status like Magic Johnson. Over the past 10 years the epidemic has changed from gay White affluent males to Black, Brown and Yellow MSM’s and high risk heterosexuals living in poor communities where there is a high concentration of health disparities along with other social ills. Not only did the epidemic shift but the funding also started to shrink.

However, there is hope on the horizon for the tide of the epidemic to be eradicated with the new bio-medical technologies of Microbicides which can come in a gel or a ring that is inserted into the vagina or rectum for added protection from HIV and/or pregnancies,Ttreatment as Prevention when a person who is living with HIV their viral load is suppressed has 96 to 100% of not transmitting the virus to their partner and Stem Cell (cord blood) treatment that will hide the CCR5 co-receptor found on the CD4/T-Cell which the HIV virion attaches to and inserts its self into the T-Cell. Without the CCR5 co-receptor then the person can’t acquire the virus.

Hope also is combining treatment and eliminating poverty, stigma, discrimination, racism, lack of access that are the driving forces of HIV in this country when we do that then we can have an AIDS Free Generation