An ounce of prevention and personal responsibility is worth a pound of government cure.

AIDS/HIV is largely preventable by personal habits. Look at Hollywood, Black Social Habits, and the Hip Hop Culture. ALL glorifying SEX, Promiscuity, and Lack of Responsibility for Self. Sorry, I have no sympathy and don’t think throwing money at cures will do as much good as quick as teaching RESPONSIBILITY!

Historically African Americans are not very health oriented. Looks at weight and diabetes.

Hasn’t anyone in the black community heard of condoms? This is a self inflicted problem, just like the 50% high school dropout rate and 70% illigitimacy rate in the black community. If I set my house on fire, why should I expect the fire department to save it? Clean up your own act before you ask someone else to do it for you.

Here’s an idea for public service annoucement:

Unprotected Sex = HIV-AIDS-STD’s & unwanted pregnancy.
Get it? Its not that complicated.

I totally agree with Bruce! The black community and really all of us need to take responsibility for our own actions. No amount of money thrown at the situation will help until people start doing that.

And we need to stop glorifying sleeping around like it is a great thing. It isn’t!!

Cindy…Ga.

It’s official. August 1, 2008 will mark nine years of no sex.

I am continually shocked by the comments I see on these posts. After the fact, sure, it’s easy to claim these people were irresponsible. But hell, they were just as unlucky.
I’m as big an advocate as anyone for personal responsibility, but also for firstly extending my condolences; I’m so sorry for this tragic truth.

I agree that the black community should worry about their problems and stop blaming all their problems on slavery. Quit whining, go to school, and get educated. If everyone else can do it, I’m sure black can do it too.

Its a cultural thing, or thang, as the case may be.

Perusing “Interracial Sex” online overwhelmingly returns Caucasian “blonds” taking on (a gang of) buff, do-ragged, oft only average endowed black males. Nary any Asian men on black females, Eskimos on Latinas…

Black music from early rock-and-roll to today’s (c)rap music talks about little else than doing manly stuff. If theres a white term for “being on the down low” I haven’t yet heard it.

I go to Nigeria for a year and am inundated daily with smiling offers to trade my empty paint bucket for a wife/sister/child/mother. In every corner of Africa theres strife and conflict accompanied by plenty of rape.

Its argued that simply throwing whites’ money at it will break the cycle, the very scheme the CIA cooked up to murder Africans.

As an educated African-American woman, I am not going to say anything about many of these poorly written and downright ignorant comments many of you have posted on this board. I will say, however, how dismayed I am by CNN’s timing of this report. I thought CNN was above Fox News type propaganda. I do not think it is a coincidence that just days after Soledad O’Brien’s Black in America airs — causing an awakening (whether positive or negative) about the plight of Blacks in America, CNN plasters this “Blacks and AIDS” story as the feature on the website. I’m disgusted, and totally offended.

I have no religious affinity but I’m shocked at the lack of morals exhibited by people in general. Especially with the amount of people who proclaim their belief in God and their church. Why is it ok that people can pick and choose what they want to believe in such as not getting an abortion because it’s against God yet it’s ok to have pre-marital sex and have kids out of wedlock? If you’re going to say you’re a Christian, Catholic or whatever – then practice the morals they’re teaching you. Perhaps this is God teaching a lesson about promiscuity?

“Today in America AIDS is a Black disease”

That line makes me sick. AIDS doesn’t care about the color of your skin! The AIDS infection rate is higher in communities that put themselves at grater risk. No amount of education will make people care more about themselves. In the black communities this is yet another byproduct on the lack of family structure. We have made it too easy on single mothers both government programs and grandparents raising their grand children and letting the parents out of their responsibilities. This promotes further generations of adults with little idea of how to be a parent because they didn’t have any examples in their life. Many are also comfortable with living on welfare so they see no reason to work on improving their life.

Black Americans are doing this at an alarming rate while supposed “Black Leaders” tell them everything is some one else’s fault. That some one else has to help them. Like they are incapable of helping them selves.

* I know it is not easy to be a single parent but we have made it easier to the point where young women choose to be a single mother. If you are willing to live on welfare you can do so with a few kids and live relatively well. So what is the incentive?

I would assume that most new infections are contracted through sexual intercourse. Maybe if society didn’t treat sex so casually there would not be such an epidemic. Sex is such an everyday thing, from soaps, primetime TV, billboard ads, music videos and every other form of social entertainment that people don’t really think twice about it.

Yet the consequences of sex are not given the same air time. All you hear is don’t get pregnant like we are living in the 50’s. People don’t think they can get HIV because it’s not discussed. It’s this unspoken disease still in 2008 and these statistics show exactly what that does when society keeps refusing to ignore the big elephant in the room.

Personally I believe sex should be saved for marriage but I have even heard of married women who contracted the disease from their cheating husbands so then what? HIV tests need to become standard but then there is that problem of people not having health insurance and the stigma that comes with being HIV positive and privacy issues.

With a disturbing epidemic like this the government defiantly needs to do something. I bet if HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death in young white women we would be doing more than just watching that huge elephant in the room keep growing. I don’t see how government can see an epidemic of a preventable disease happening in this country and do absolutely nothing that is extremely disappointing.

Back in the ’80s when AIDS first made its debut, school-age kids were taught all about how it was contracted and to wear condoms to help prevent contracting HIV. The statistics show that AIDS incidence increased rapidly through the 1980s, peaked in the early 1990s, and then declined—all of those kids in the ’80s listened and knew that HIV was out there and how to help prevent the spread.

Then comes the wonderous age of teaching kids abstinence only. No instruction about condoms, how they can help prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs. A recent statistic says that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STI. That is unacceptable, there is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching kids what these things are and the simple use of a CONDOM can help prevent it and that diseases spread through oral sex also.

I remember in the ’80s how parents were so upset that there were free condoms offered to teenagers, but they were using them. Better to not get pregnant, maybe not get genital herpes or HIV than to take your chances.

Teach kids how to do it safely, they’re going to try sex anyway…they may as well learn how to be responsible about it. Black, white, hispanic, asian…it doesn’t matter.

Black people we have to start taking better care of ourselves.
Yes Jesse Jackson I am talking down to our people because they need a serious wake up call!

My brothers & sisters. face the truth and stop leaving in denial.in my home country UGANDA, sex and its related STDs is taught from child hood up to univesity. when u learn how to leave +vely, you can leave for life. people have been with HIV /AIDS for 30yrs and so. remeber behavior change is the answer.

The hip-hop culture of African-Americans, the lack of a monogamous father figure in African-American families, the constant and unwarranted victim mentality of African-Americans, and the absolute refusal of many in the African-American community to take responsibility for their actions; those are the causes of many of the woes African-Americans face, including this HIV/AIDS issue. They’ve made their bed and now they must sleep in it (please pardon the pun).

If this lesson teaches the healthy among us anything I pray that it’s to think twice before entering into a sexual relationship with an African-American.

As an African-American, I DO NOT believe black people have more AIDS or HIV then any other group of people. This all Media and AMA hype! I don’t have AIDS or HIV but if you listen to the media and other media outlets all the black population here in America is dying.

Once again ALL HYPE!!! DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!

So, as a white guy, am I supposed to feel guilty about higher HIV rates in the black community because they apparently can’t use condoms?

With the exception of anyone that was infected by tainted blood, anyone that contracts HIV has no one to blame but themselves. If a community partakes in more unprotected sex, more drug use with needle needle sharing, etc…. then don’t come crying because they have a higher HIV infection rate

Though I feel that responsibilty is a BIG part of remaining negative, I also understand that not everyone is honest. I have a friend who is HIV positive and it wasn’t because he was irresponsible. He is HIV positive because he was in love and trusted the person he was with. He didn’t disclose his status and now they both are living with this disease. All of you may know someone living with HIV/AIDS and not know..So maybe you should be more sympathetic and understanding to those who may be closest to you. Not everyone is honest or willing to disclose such information about themselves..

The thing I hate about statistics…depending on your data gathering techniques you can report whatever you want to report. First understand the report says basically that half of the HIV population is black. Then it goes into the cities with the highest concentrations of black people and reports numbers like 16% of the black population is infected…Well what if the same report was prepared in a largely white community..what would those numbers look like? Aside from trying to make the disease mostly a racially divided and I guess motivated diease this report does what most reports with flawed data gathering techniques do…purport lies and create erroroneous sensitivities. The guy doing the report has to do so to continue to recieve funding for his nonprofit organization…point blank… Aids is a disease, much like, emphysema or cirrhosis of the liver…its about choices…lifestyle choices. People make bad decisions and live in the consequences…the fact that the disease is contagious and can be passed from one individual to another makes it more communal than the aformemntioned diseases….but imagine if you could get emphysema from having sex with a closet smoker… would that make you more careful or more supceptible… std’s can be passed with the use of a condom during sex as well as passed in other ways…aids canbe passed by “sharing needles” alot of these aids carriers are intravenous drugs users…not some black people listening to rap music and having sex with a shawty from around da way…So the drugs…and the sex…and the environment play a major role in the reported numbers of aids cases….the proponents of the human condition that play into “the NEED” … i could go on but enough is enough…Aids is a problem for everyone…white, black, asian, latino….etc.

Dearests,am a counsellor in TASO an AIDS Oraganisation in Uganda.Am calling on u all to get to the reality of life. Understand and accept that the epidemic is with u and work towrds preventing the spread of it thru use of preventive measures such as theABC
strategy i.e Abstain,condom use and Faithfull.

It is also for personnal responsibility as caution,those infected accept and seek for medication and counselling services to help you live long years like we do have examples from Uganda .For more information you can contact me on the above e-mail address.

this is scary that the rates of infectin in a group of americans is so sad, yet another example of the american government not taking care of its own people. also a great delineation of what it really means to be a second class citizen in the US based on the color of your skin, its not a self correcting problem, its something that requires education and support to break through cultural bariers that are preventing african americans from talking about this within there own communities. it requries people continueing to strive for equality in public schools, in health care, and in socioecinomic status! HIV doesnt only effect the people infected, in effects the entire community and that includes all race, religion or creed!

I am shocked by these comments.
As someone who has spent significant time working in four sub-Saharan African countries, I find these sweeping generalizations very offensive.
Poverty. Poverty limits the choices and freedoms that people have in their everday life. I have met many women forced to become prositiutes in order to keep food on the table for thier children. It is a question of survival; when someone is in desperation to keep thier family alive- certain choices are made for you.
If my children were at risk of starvation, and my only access to money was through prosititution, I would probably do it too.
Honestly ask yourself what you would do.
Also ask yourself,
Have I ever felt what starvation is like?
Have I ever had to make a decision that literally is for survival?
Have I ever traveled to a SubSaharan nation? Do I know what poverty really looks like?

Maybe some of you have answered yes to these questions. If so, maybe you might realize that there is a lot more involved in life decisions than the color of ones skin.

kwood, monroe, NY- There are several things mentioned that need to be addressed to your comment.

1) This article didnt claim that slavery was the cause of the high AIDS rate.
2) I agree that education is critical to personal sucess. However, your comment, “Quit whining, go to school, and get educated. If everyone else can do it, I’m sure black can do it too.” is very ignorant.
Public schools in the U.S. are not equal. Inner city schools are predominantly underfunded and overcrowded. It is a known fact that the quality of public education varies among your geographic location, therefore, if you are born into a low income family in a low income area, you will have very limited economic opportunities. Through No Child Left Behind, these inner city, underfunded institutions have been punished further by thier funding being suspended due to poor test scores (which are the result of the overcrowding).

College is extremely expensive. For low income families to send children to college, they must obtain one of the limited scholorships, which obviously is very difficult if a student attends a poor high school.

While I believe there should always be compassion, I don’t believe in making excuses for our own decisions. Unless someone is raped, the choice to have sex and do drugs is up to each individual. It is especially concerning that many younger people born in the 80’s and 90’s( of any race) are not listening. Just because now there are drugs to prolong people’s lives, it doesn’t mean people should be completely careless. The drugs don’t save everybody AND the are expensive. We are human and have the capacity to think before we act. The government can and will only do so much. The choices are ultimately up to us, not matter what our politics, culture, race or religion. Protect yourself, don’t make excuses.

All the compassion in the world for those afflicted, but why on earth use the words “shouldering the greatest burden” as if it is someone else’s fault. HIV isn’t something new and unknown. There’s no excuse for anyone having unprotected sex.

Hi, I’m Black Female who’s heart is agonizing over these results. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Many of those infected are impoverished and culturally conditioned by the Rap music, video’s, lifestyle, and lack of education and home training and guidance. I myself and HIV negative of course. I’m well educated and live a responsible life. I feel that we have got to remove the negative influences that invade our Black culture. Such as stand up against the Rap artists that produce the irresponsible, immature, premiscuous, 10 children having, non family oriented music. Then, sex education needs to be taught in our schools. Next, our jpeople both parents, cousins, uncles, should talk freely to our children about the consequences of HIV and safe sex and abstinence. So should the churches. There should be community programs that speak on prevention and keep this issue in the forefront. Other programs should target encouraging education, completing High School, attending college and earning advanced degrees while teaching the children and young adults to escape the perils of poor and HIV stricken lives.

I’d also like to mention that many professionals get HIV to. So the sadness of irresponsibility does exist in other socio economic areas.

CNN just reported HIV as an epidemic and has contacted the CDC
about how they are trying to resolve this problem. What about
CANCER!! Is it not an epidemic at this point?? Everyone has, or knows someone who has been affected by cancer. What is the
CDC doing about this! I have breast cancer and my sister passed
away two years ago with it. One in seven women are now being
diagnosed with it! Thousands are battling all tyoes of cancer every day! I feel for those that are HIV positive. I have lost a good friend to
AIDS in the past. The difference here is that MOST HIV positive
people have a choice! MOST cancer patients DID NOT have a
choice. I’d like CNN to address the cancer issue and find out
what is being done about it!

While I agree with most of the comments in regard to personal responsibility and sexual behavior, the thing that strikes me as odd, is how the media and goverment continue to act as though education on AIDS and STD’s is something that hasn’t yet reached the masses. I think it fair to say that almost all American adults know that unprotected sex and needles can spread disease. It’s time to stop pretending we don’t know and start holding those with HIV/AIDS and other STDs accountable for knowingly spreading it to other.

My frustration with this series is the constant presentation of statistics with little or no time spent addressing how those numbers got so high (or in some cases, low). The question “How did we get to such a place?” should be towards the top of this post, not in the last paragraph. Answer those questions first then let’s engage in conversation about changing the course.

If the American Negro would just stop all the fornicating they do then perhaps this would not be an issue. What good is a public outcry for prevention when most American Negro men refuse to use a jimmy hat.

It is staggering to hear these statistics. I attended an HIV/ AIDS conference at my college last year and we heard all the horrifying statistics that engulf many parts of Africa. However, there was not a word said about how out of hand the HIV / AIDs has become within the Black community, right here in America!

I partially agree with the different people that have claimed that this is a self infected problem within the black African American community. Yes, it is your responsibility to have protected sexual intercourse but everyone is human and people do mess up ( but no one deserves to have to suffer with HIV/ AIDs, NO one)! HIV can stay dormant within someone system up to 10 years …. meaning you could give the virus to someone even though you don’t know you have it ( I believe when you first get infected by HIV you can still test neg for HIV.. but don’t quote me on that !!).

Also, there will never be a cure for HIV / AIDs because it is a VIRUS and you can’t cure a virus, it will stay within your body for the rest of your life.

No matter what the only way to help yourself and the problem is to sustain from sex and or use protection ( which is most realistic).

The sad truth is that some people believe that they are in committed relationships until the test results prove otherwise.
Funding for education and prevention is extremely important because unfortunately, there is nothing out there; condoms or otherwise that provides 100% protection.
Knowing all the facts about this disease and what areas are most affected may make those who think that HIV/AIDS has a “look” realize that new treatments are extending the lives of those who are infected; they can look completely healthy and live with the disease for decades. The picture of Tom Hanks in “Philadelphia” with the telling skin lesions and fragile appearance is virtually no more. The prettiest young lady or sexiest young man ‘that you’ve ever seen” may be infected and know it and may never tell a potential partner because they know what would likely happen if they did.
Funding for treatment is important because we may find a way to eradicate this deadly disease or at least find a way to prevent it from spreading.

a lot of these comments sounds racist. is anyone here african american or have african american friends?

To those who are on the outside looking in, being those who feel that this is a Black ordeal instead of a human tragedy, can easily shift blame strictly to the Black community but unlike some comments, I know that racism, slavery, discrimination and other disparities equals a lowered self-love, appreciation and distorted view of life. If as a child all you see is despair and feel the stares and criticism from the privileged then what do you expect. STOP SHIFTING BLAME! And for those who speak of Slavery as if it doesn’t pertain to our current crisis is as blind and ignorant as our current President. Slavery is not just a term that is used today as a scapegoat; it was the curse of Blacks for over 200 years. A life of no moral regard or human kindness by Whites or Euro’s. Remember King was assassinated just 40+ years ago…HATERD.. Be educated on who the BLACK MAN IS then draw your narrow-mined conclusion.

I just find it absolutely amazing how white people in America still choose to think. I find it sickening that these so called educated people are on this board making these comments. Yes all people should take full responsibility for their actions, however this is an epidemic and illness that is gripping our world today. I know that it is very hard for some people to feel compassion and understand what is not their own but please look at the facts first. AIDS is not only spread by unprotected sex, it can be spread through bodily fluids, through drug use, and to your unborn child. If your white daughter or white grandchild were to contract this illness what would the problem be then? This is a problem that involves everyone because it knows no boundaries of color, sexual orientation or otherwise. Prevention is key but working towards a cure and to make medicine more affordable is also very important. It breaks my heart to see readign on these various postings that we are all still so trapped by color and so blind to whats important. Life, any life should be important. People make bad choices every day from your son deciding to drink and drive to your daughter having unprotected sex neither means that they deserve to die, or kill some one, or get pregnant. So as “educated adults” take a look at what your saying and how your thinking because the mind can be a deadly thing and the thoughts posted daily are toxic.

What about th emarried men and women who by chance finds out they’ve caught this disease from a cheating spouse, the child born with it because his mother had it, the unsuspecting woman (or man) raped and finds out about it, or hell even the woman who’s in a commited relationship whose man didn’t know his status and passed it on? Are all of these to be blamed on the hip hop culture? Why is it not fair to be outraged at a government who is more concerned about overseas affairs than its’ own citizens? If the government would take care of home first before they try to play super hero to everyone else maybe this nation wouldn’t have as many of the crisis it has

I am very surprised of the comments I’m reading to a point, but believe in me I can tell who’s making the comments. trust in me, I’m going to say it.
there are plenty of whites living with aids but society is too busy focusing on the black race that there’s no attention on the whites…..My advice to everyone is to get yourselves together because you just do not know.. its not just sex!!! what about drugs, your pass lives….. its okay to say no!!!!!

Where has the black community been for the last 15-20 years. HIV prevention has been all over the newpapers, TV (+MTV), in the schools, radio, etc. Did the rest of the country listen and take heed and somehow the black community missed that or thought it didn’t include them?

The government should not have to spend additional money to “redo” its campaign that has been in place for 20 years.

Take personal responsibility. Condoms help to prevent pregnancy and AIDS – or so I’ve heard!!

I regret to inform that I am appalled by all your comments.
This is an epidemic that is caused by an inevitable circle-of -life for most African-American children.

I do not deny that the Media, such as Rap videos, do impact African-American life, but it is also cause be neglect from society and parental guidance!

Inner-City schools or urban life are filled with Children who have been expected and destined to fail. Our school system or the government needs to do more in order to break this cycle. You must understand where they come from; some are raised in a single-family homes with no guidance or little supervision. The parent is frustrated because of their misfortune, leading to more disappointment and less supervision. Where can they turn or better who can they turn too? —-The media or the streets— because this gives them hope.

How about the pressure to stay “Thugged” by society? They have been place in schools with very little or no diversity; how can they learn culture? If they do not have an effective role model how do you expect prosperity? If they read comments like the ones posted above, how can they remain positive? This is the issue — statistics show we have a problem, but society (although mentioned) choose to criticize instead of leading a helping hand. I don’t see any changes in the near if we have this type of attitude….

Half, a rather large number…who are the other half? and why is the article all about the black side? if we are raging against HIV/AIDS why add the color.

Black America, please quit blaiming the past, join America, stay in school, EARN that pride, and show everyone (all colors) that you are what you want to be

and lastly, the information has been out there for over 20 years, money will not solve this, personal responsibility…let’s all say it together.

Seriously people??? We’ve resorted to blaming the victim? I guess a woman who wears a mini skirt in public deserves to be raped, too. She asked for it, right? Her right to express herself is only given if she forfeits her right of protection from violence.

“Go to school and get educated.” Yea, it’s really that easy for everyone. Especially when the public schools in your area are incredibly poor. Especially when you have a single mom and 5 siblings to take care of, putting food on the table becomes the main priority. Especially when your neighborhood is ridden with gangs and violence, staying alive becomes your main priority.

Take the silver spoons out of your mouths and stop judging people that you know nothing about. The only way we’re going to find a cure is by working together. We need to go out and make sure that everyone gets educated instead of putting the burden on the individual. We can’t just say, “Too bad, it’s your fault anyways, I’m not going to help you,” because guess what? The only thing that will happen is that AIDS will spread more and more. We can’t stop fighting, nor can we only fight for certain groups of people. Unlike many of you, AIDS does not discriminate. Who do we want to win this battle: AIDS, or us?

I would have to agree with many of the comments I see here. I am a gay women, by the way….(pretty irrelevant here, but anyway).

200 yrs of slavery and even gross racism CANNOT be the scapegoat for people living carelessly, with little or no prudence given to their sex-lives and health. In other words, if the Black community (or gay male community) is disproportionately affected by this tragic disease then I think they should really dust themselves off and (take responsibility) for what has happened to them.

WOW….some of these comments truly sadden me, especially the one left by KWoods.

I think of my uncle who is dying from HIV, because of his wife’s promiscuity (who is not African American, although he is.) My uncle is a highly educated man (graduate from West Point and Prairie View A & M Univ), a veteran, a husband, and by all means, a statistic that is included in this story.

When you say such IGNORANT things like; “that the black community should worry about their problems and stop blaming all their problems on slavery.” you ASSume that this is a racial problem, when it is COMPLETLY a social problem. Issues like this target the black community and will be cyclical until enough a large enough concentration of PEOPLE (regardless of race), come together to eradicate these issues. And these issues will grow, until they consume a race, and will spread to others; like all infectious dieases before them.

Ignore these statistics if you want. Continue to think that this is an HIV is confined by the melanin of skins…and one day your daughter, mother, son or in my case uncle will be included too.

This is not simply a cultural ‘thang’, it is a multi ‘cultural’ thang. While I agree that hip-hop glorifies sex, bling, and the mistreatment of women….I am also knowledgable to the fact that Hip-Hop is not giving Paris Hilton her own reality TV show, and I am sure Rap is not filling magazine racks with gossip mags that display little Brittany Spears private parts or 16 year-old Jamie Lynn Spears with her newborn baby.

These are issues that we as American face. Don’t be blind to them, because you think they specifically deal with race.

When less stated “Its argued that simply throwing whites’ money at it will break the cycle, the very scheme the CIA cooked up to murder Africans.”

I get very angry because that story came from an African-American from St Jose news paper who also recanted his story and said sorry.

Don’t blame white Americans for it; I for one love all people and have the most compassion for African-Americans because of what white Americans continue to inflect on African-Americans knowingly or unknowingly.

Just keep up the good work at surviving my good brothers and sisters of the African-American community.

With Love, Dan

P.S. The only federally funded sex education programs are “abstinence-only,” which essentially teaches kids that condoms are bad, but people are still going to have sex anyways. So in this sad day in age, education doesn’t necessarily mean making safe decisions when it comes to sexual health.

Matthew

that was on of the most racist comments I have ever heard. You should be ashamed. I am ashamed that America is home to ignorance like yours. That mentality is why America is so divided today. Help your neighbor, don’t scorn them

I am really appauled at all the ignorant and racial statements that have come across this blog! As an educated African American women, I see where the division clearly is, this is not a topic about us vs them, but merely a humane issue, so when ignorance takes the for front of an issue it onley hurts all of us as Americans!

I wouldnt know but it appears that more White people on this blog have addressed the issue of slavery, more so then any African American on this blog, if it is in deed our problem why is it that when Blacks talk about there tragedies a white person is quick to think we blame everything on slavery?

Im just wondering how this topic about AIDS became a topic about slavery? We still have a long ways too go and it really apparent by the ignorance that is posted on this blog!

Incorrect social behavior has it’s consequences. Too much whiskey results in alcoholism. Too many Big Macs results in obesity. And unprotected sex results in STD’s and pregnancies (unwanted). None of this is unique to the black community, but these statistics should tell us that using some form of protection would be beneficial.

Wasn’t this part of a government conspiracy to eradicate the african american? I thought I heard some pastor, Jeremiah?, say something about that.

Although the HIV rate is high among Afr Amr, generally speaking, this data unfortunately includes gays and drug abusers. Too bad this reporter did not provide a more detailed data that reflects mainstream black america (hetersexual couples, singles, students, etc.) too. The LA Times’ HIV reports show the percentages two or three points higher than mainstream white america.

And to all the negative posts, YES, Slavery, Jim Crow, under-employment, excess credit rates, racsist teachers, and the Mafia’s & FBI’s peddling of drugs, alcohol and guns in black communities have all been a contributing factor to the demise of many black fathers, mothers and children who had difficulties to persevere under a bad economic structure, and greater still with the aforementioned. The sooner you can accept this, the sooner your kids can avoid the same fate.

Until you’ve walked a mile in someones shoe’s, you should never judge them. I agree that some African American people need to take responsibility for their actions, but some really are trying and some didn’t deserve what happened them. Some are married women who are very successful who have dealt with men or husbands who live double lives. No on deserves to be put down by people who are on the outside looking in. Remember, what goes around come around. Carma can get you through words…

I think the reason racism was even brought into the picture here was because it talked about how much a of problem HIV / AIDS is among the African American population, the focus was not on the white or gay community. It doesn’t make sense to me why everything has to turn into a black and white issue and go back 200 years to slavery ( even though I am not denying the residual effects that remain from the most shameful part of American history).
The way I see it, this writing was trying to highlight a problem that many Americans didn’t know existed to such an large degree in the U.S…. AWARENESS bring ACTION and Understanding.
as corny as it sounds … knowledge is power!

So lets just try and figure out how to help the problem instead of fighting over who or what is to blame for it.

- sorry wrote this really fast, so please cut me some slack on my writing skills

I wonder if any of the black leaders has ever used the words “personal responsibility”.. Sharpton probably never has… all he knows is that the government needs to help more… If he and Jackson could talk more about responsibility, and be more aware of whats happening in their own community, instead of whining about issues like Don Imus, Maybe SOME good might come of their existence !

stan…..does anyone actually listen to those two idiots, these days??

ACurry: An educated black female? So, you must have missed out on the day that they taught statistics in class that day? Please take a few minutes of your busy day and look at the CDC website. Numbers speak for themselves. 50% HIV rate, 70% drop out rate, the highest teen pregnancy rate amongst ALL ethnic minorities in our country, highest population of criminals and repeat offenders, 70% of interracial crime is black on white, and not the other way around.

Condoms are free! Get yours at the local Community center, and save yourself. But, I have this feeling that the white community will be held accountable for the black communities actions, like usual. I can personally asure you that my ancestors never owned a slave, so what makes anyone think I should continue to pay for mistakes made by people and countries generations ago? Its very, very simple preventing AIDS/HIV! Use protection or dont have sex. Since we know that absitence is impossible amongst the black community, and wide spread sexual activity is encouraged by the music, the culture, and the fact that your Community leaders have illigimate children, it will difficult to beat. Maybe this is GOD’s way or righting a wrong…….????? Ever consider that?

If you break God’s laws you suffer the consequences black or white. You will reap what you sow its true in my life and yours. It will not help to throw money at this problem. Its a moral crisis that started with the breakup up of the family and the illiicit sex that prevades our society. It s real simple if you want Gods blessings you must follow His Biblical commands.

I am a black single mother and would like to say that it’s time black people take responsibility for their own actions. How long are they going to continue blaming slavery for everything and white society. No one told us to go out there and have unprotected sex. Accept the consequences, suck it up, get off welfare, get a job, move out of public housing and stop complaining. Life is tough, so what? As blacks we are our own worst enemies. Blacks live in housing, on welfare and have boyfriends who drive Lexus’, Escalade, BMW. Why is that money going into something more meaningful. Maybe for those who have HIV/AIDS all that bling, bling will help you. NOT!!

Does Soledad O’brien discuss this in her “Black in America” series? If not, she did a disservice to the black public.

I have been an HIV/AIDS educator and counselor since 1991. Ignorance and silence are the reasons we all are still battling these diseases at the numbers we are. No one is immune. Let me say it again. No one is immune. My friend who didn’t know her boyfriend was a bisexual IV drug user wasn’t immune when she contracted HIV while in college. My cousin wasn’t immune when he contracted this from a man he loved and thought was safe. My friends weren’t immune when they contracted this disease in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s not knowing what this thing was they weren’t supposed to get. I’ve buried more people than I care to count that I love due to HIV and AIDS. Being wealthy and white didn’t save them. Being poor and white had no bearing, either. Short of no sex, no needles, you can’t ever know for sure. Education has to begin before sex and drugs enter a kid’s life. And abstinence based education isn’t realistic, the religious right and anti-gay movement need to get their heads out of their asses, and people need to realize that this disease isn’t just a gay white man’s illness. Learn to protect yourself. And stop judging those who aren’t as perfect as you think you are. NO ONE deserves the horrors HIV and AIDS can inflict. NO ONE. Silence=Death and prevention is up to each individual and should be provided in some form through community, school, health clinics, church, and most importantly family. Then it’s up to the person to take responsibility to stay safe. And yeah, we all have a responsibility to help each other when in need no matter what the country. Look up Nelson Mandela’s 46664 program for ways to help in Africa (and there are many others besides this one). Just volunteer here to work to make a difference. FInally, I pray those of you who sit as judge and juror never go through the merry-go-round of HIV with those you love, you never talk them out of a terror of dying at 32, and you never bury them knowing this thing was totally preventable, never intentional, yet took them away when so much life was still yet to be shared. HIV doesn’t know color nor creed nor gender preference nor SES nor number of sexual partners. It’s a virus. It can be a lethal monster. And we all need to wake up to that fact no matter how safe we think we and those we love really are.

Thank you Toni. I lost my son at 4 to a rare form of childhood cancer. Unprotected sex leading to HIV/AIDS is a choice that is made. I also know of others who have passed on from breast and other forms of cancer. I have a hard time feeling sorry for those with HIV/AIDS because they had choices and chose wrong. So now they are dealing with the consequences. They may not deserve having this disease but it’s their own fault. Abstinence or condom has always been a choice. Regardless of being raised in poverty with limited choices does that mean that common sense should not be used?

Responsiblity, responsiblity, the government is not to be blamed here…as a black man I agree with Obama…get off our buts and take respnsobility…buy condoms or get the free from clinics…

Black people know how you get AIDS, just like they know how babies are made, yet they continually create children with fathers who leave, and then need the support of the government. Until these actions become unacceptable by their own community- or they are cut off completely from assistance- they will continue to languish in a world of their own making.
The “white in America” that most of my friends and family grew up in was one of neglectful,alcoholic parents and poverty. It didn’t take us 2 seconds to buck up, get one, two, three jobs to go to school and make ourselves better. And when I applied to those schools did I get the aid or special treatment I needed?No.
What about Jewish in America? Kids whose parents watched their siblings or own parents dragged off to gas chambers, then came to America with nothing to make lives for themselves. Black in America, the ball is in your court.

It seems that half of these people who have decided to blog are really not too educated because they are not looking at the big picture. The big picture is to summon the government to either fund the U.S. of more money to take care of our Country first before we fully support other Countries. No one wants to say hey the numbers speak for itself and we do need to do something about this statistical figures. All I see is the blacks do not take care of themselves, they do not use condom when engaging in sexually activities. It isn’t anyone’s problem until it hits their back yards. But if we do nothing about this epidemic, it will be knocking on our door real soon. So please stop pointing fingers at one another and let us all pull our resources and curb the numbers 1, 2 and 3rd killer in the United States. Let us continue to educate our young people. We adults need to lead by example.

Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton are probably the two biggest racists in this country. I dont see them standing up and making themselves accountable? How can they? One of them has illigitmate children strewn throughout the country, and the other is under federal investigation. Quite literally almost all the black role models, are nothing more than TV whores who look for an audience and way to pad their bank accounts. NFL players going to jail, religious leaders being scorned, civic leaders pointing the fingers at whites and other races of our country so that they dont have to accept the fact that what has happened to black america is THEIR FAULT! I didnt tell that black guy to have unprotected sex, or to have 5 kids with 5 different women, but his music, his culture, his way of life and upbringing sure did. This isnt about numbers or statistics or ethnic minorities, this is totally ALL about personal accountability and responsibility, of which we know VERY few black people have. Blame it on the white man is what they are taught and what they believe. Im white, and I dont blame blacks for hard times in my life. I man up and fix it myself. Whats your major malfunction? Its not education or money or lack of money or lack of social programs. Good God, there are so many social programs in this country, everyone with a boo boo has a support group funded by taxpayers. Im starting a new group. The disenfranchised, pissed off, white mans group. I want federal funding, I want state funding, I want TV time, and I want to have illigimate children and talk crap about other races and get away with it, just like our African Americans do.

Hi maxim7504,
I think you better pay attention to a spelling bee and sentence structure, it points to your lack of education; many of the comments criticizing so-called Black life-styles points to a huge lack of education.

Many of you are only hanging on the coat tails a few that are dominating the American society and the world; if you have to let go of those coat tails, your half a brain won’t get you anywhere in society.

So, before you look at Blacks, be introspective and think if you were faced with what we were and still are faced with every day, you would not survive. I’m proud of the African American heritage; still surviving after you have done unspeakable atrocities to us, your race could not survive that. Think, Think, Think.

The above notwithstanding, I think that Black people should begin a campaign of serious lifestyle change, stress education and ethics, foster an attitude that would be the “Black thing” to be educated and smart and totally independent of government hand-outs, so as to stop these half-witted people from treating us like dirt, (those who get their education from biased media outlets) only because they are the so-called ‘dominant culture’

Noel….the “big picture” you describe consists nothing more than a sum of millions of “little pictures”. In other words, each individual is a “picture” and must be responsible for his/her own actions. As for the government doing more, well, all of these little pictures are the government, and I for one, sense that millions of us are sick and tired of pouring money down various rat hole welfare programs that solve absolutely nothing other than to create people who live as dependents rather than independently. You want to curb this killer, and of course, so does everyone else. It’s simple to stop. So, so simple. Use protection while having sex; be responsible and noone will die. In the end, the government is of no help if each “little picture” shirks his/her responsibility.

As an African American I am very disappointed by this article. I am agreement that it is not the job of the government to stop me from getting an STD. I looked at the Centers for Disease Control website and 66% of black women are not HIV positive like someone stated in the blog. These numbers do not correlate with what is going on in Africa by any means and it would seem it is regional as well. I am from the Midwest and I have not lost anyone in my family due to AIDS and I do not know of anyone in my family that is HIV positive, including aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

I also wonder that if Black women are contracting HIV from Black men why wouldn’t their white partners be at risk also. Where I am from you hardly ever see a black women with a black male it is always black male, white female and these black men are not millionaires but black men who are recently released from incarceration. These white women have several children and baby fathers as well. I think that the tide will turn with black women and HIV to just women with HIV.

CDC:
Transmission Category Estimated # of HIV/AIDS Cases, in 2006

Male-to-male sexual contact 17,465
Injection drug use 3,016 ( Men ) 1,712 (Women)
Male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use 1,180
High-risk heterosexual contact* 4,152 (Men) 7,432 (Women)

Black people let’s be really honest here. If this report had said that White people were the ones getting AIDS you would be on this blog making the same kind of remarks, that you seem to be getting so upset about. So please stop acting like you are any different. And when you say that a child who grows up around in poverty and seeing voilence and goes to schools that are run down, doesn’t have a chance for any other kind of life. I say yes they do if only some of their lazy parents would get off their butts, and do something about it ,besides blaming the White’s or The Government for their problems. If this is the kind of coming together of people from all races that Obamas preaching about, I think this is the biggest con-game I have ever seen, all this is doing is bringing to the surface all the hate and loathing that races really have for one another. GOOD JOB OBAMA.

According to the likes of jerimiah wrigt, kanye west, and spike lee, this is all George Bush’s fault so you can all relax now. He will be replaced in 5 months.

What’s funny about all of this is that condom usage and promiscuity rates are about the same between blacks and whites. Black folks are just fishing in a smaller pool of applicants. Your biggest risk factor IS YOUR ZIP CODE and one HIV-infected apple can spoil a whole bunch.

Aids started in the ’80’s as a white disease, and it still may be a white disease. Where are they getting these statistics? The People I know don’t have AIDS. They did not poll me or my friends.

These statistics cause great sadness and my heart goes out to the ones who are decieved into thinking that you can do whatever you want with this body and get around the consequences. we truly need revival in the black community , in our country and in our world.Lord forgive us and please send revival!

Barbara, how in the world can aids be a white disease when it originated on the African continent??

To all others. To summarize what I was saying earlier… I believe the higher rate of HIV/AIDS among African-Americans is a result of the choices they have made, PERIOD. Blaming it on education, money… how sad they feel on any given day because of their station in life… whatever… those are excuses. If you make bad choices then you live (or die) with them.

HIV / AIDS
1) IT’S A TREATABLE DISEASE NOW,
2) PEOPLE LIVE A LONG TIME NOW,
3) A CURE IS NOT FAR OFF,
4) I’M NOT REALLY SCARED OF IT ANYMORE.

I have heard those comments said so often in America’s Youth Today! It’s a horror of the way younger American (back, white, other) are looking at the disease.

I worry about the Kids Of America, so many are being killed in our political wars, others with disease including AIDS.

Is it just education that stops it? I dont think so, the FEAR of it need to come back into reality.

Well stated Tammy! HIV is THE defining event of our time. The statistics are so overwhelming that it is hard to assimilate – consider 25 million dead of the disease, more than 40 million currently infected and by 2010 some predictions say that 100 million will be infected. Also by 2010 some prediction state that there will be 20 million AIDS orphans in Africa.

It is not about black or white – in Russia there will be approx 8 million HIV infections in the next decade – it is a global humanitarian issue like the environment and it will require all of our combined efforts to make a difference.

If someone murders another person in cold blood we arrest them, try them, then sentance them to DEATH. If someone has HIV, then passes the disease onto a new victim, do the same thing… execute them, and watch the HIV rate drop like a stone!

Anderson Cooper is guilty of gross lies and deceptionand anti-fertility propaganda. Did anyone notice that the WHO and UNAIDS last month took the threat of heterosexual AIDS off women in all ethnic groups around the world except for “Sub-Saharan Africans”, and this apparently includes African women in other parts of the planet.

It must therefore be obvious that African women and men must be doing something that members of other ethnicities are NOT doing? Funny thing is, researchers have never been able to figure out what that something is. The facts sometimes don’t fit the hype.

It’s not the condoms. The highest rate of condom usage in the U.S. is among African American woman. It’s not related to STD’s because gay men, while their HIV prevalence is dropping, are the only ones who are experiencing rise in rates of gonorrhea and syphilis. The suspected “men on the down low” phenomena was debunked by leading researchers from within the CDC itself.

Could it be that the rise in HIV diagnosis is directly related to the incidence of HIV antibody testing within certain demographic groups AND that the margin for error that allows for false positives is the source of this seeming statistical threat to African Americans?

Perhaps, the eugenics movement has stepped up its activity (again) and is using “voluntary unconscious selection” as a means of continuing to lower African American fertility. Perhaps Peter Duesberg was right and groups like Alive and Well, as well as Rethinking AIDS are correct in moving us all away from this distortion of epidemiological science.

Lastly, a total of 14,627 annual deaths from the 30 different diseases collectively known as AIDS is a rather minuscule threat when compared to such diseases as diabetes, which kills 16 times more in the U.S. annually. Yes, I DID say that AIDS definition in the U.S. includes 30 different diseases. Did anyone state that these 30 different diseases produce the leading cause of death for young black men or women? And that this amounts to only half of 14,627 deaths annually?

Please people, brush up your information gathering process and investigate The Great AIDS Hoax. There’s far more there than most of could even imagine.

A united nation must take care of all its citizens and not let class nor race divide it.This care will strengthen the efforts of a united people toward self-sufficiency and eventual independence. America will begin to change and will embrace the philosophy upon which this country was founded, where all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and not only poverty, disease, and suffering for some .Now I truly believe, you can, you must you will positively find creative approaches to this progressive problem.The idea is to help the blacks understand their environment so they will be able to effectively unite for their continued existence.Hard work today, reap success tomorrow, better society in the near future for everyone. Remember united you stand but divided you may fall. Every nation needs all its human resource. Incurable Diseases lead to deaths within populations. If you can save someone, save the black minority (as they appear socially and economically disintegrated) so they can be proud Americans, just as proud as their White and other Latino families. Reach Out and touch Black lives!!

Rahni, from Connecticut, are you kidding me?! This is no hype brother, this is as real as it gets. Wake up! In a few years time, your going to see the results of HIV sweep through the black community.
I will not get down on the Black community, but I have to say, they really need to get together and try and find a way out of this right now. There is no time to wait for a government fix. The black community must do something for them selves.
We need to be duping education into these communities and black leaders need to enlist the entertainment moguls to help spread this message.
If you have to, talk to a hood-rat on his level.

Karen,

You make a good point. Poverty is the root of the problem. What do you suggest each one of us do to alleviate the situation?

I just want to thank the church for its ongoing indifference to the epidemic in the Black community. Without your assistance tens of thousands of lives could have been saved, but alas the members filling the pews were scared and ignorant, and the church more concerned about potential loss of followers and plate donations.
Maybe if the church’s members had known that the man sitting next to them was gay or on the DL, and had AIDS, then they would have realized that the disease was closer then they thought and that it had a very human face.
It could be friend, your lover, or your husband – education is paramount especially in poor areas of urban centers throughout the country.
Until we recognize that it is an issue for ALL americans we can not even hope to begin to address it in the hardest affected populations. It is not a Black issue – it is a human issue facing humanity as a whole – let’s work together.

While I do feel sorry for those that are infected with and suffering with AIDS at the same time I must make the same comment that many other people have made about this topic.

When AIDS became recognized in 1981 it was understandable that those that became infected ended up with a death sentence, it was a new disease and no one knew it was coming. However in the year 2008 we all know how to protect ourselves, have heard stories about AIDS and personally lost friends and loved ones to AIDS so there is no excuse anymore for catching this disease. No one can try and hide behind ignorance. The only true victims of this disease are the very first victims that were infected during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, they had no idea that the disease existed and therefore did not know how to prevent it. You can not prevent something if you don’t know that it exists!

African Americans can not expect a white government that historically has shown nothing but disregard for the well being of black people to suddenly be concerned with a disease that we are bringing on ourselves. In addition the government is not responsible to police us in our bedrooms, it is our job to police ourselves and protect ourselves by:

1) Maintaining a monogamous relationship with men and women that are not in and out of jail, not promiscuous, not drug addicts sharing needles and not sneaking around behind our backs sleeping with homosexuals.

2) Stop meeting people in the clubs/bars and having one night stands assuming that they are not carrying AIDS. Everyone that we date must be thought of as an AIDS carrier, period! Put on a condom.

3) Stay off the internet looking for sexual encounters with strangers. There are a lot of people out here who have the disease and don’t care if they infect other people.

4) Even if married or in a long term monogamous relationship continue to use condoms. People cheat and have sex outside of their relationships so better to be safe then sorry and end up dead.

5) Stop believing people when you ask them if they are HIV+ and they say no. People lie so use a condom even when they say that they don’t have the disease.

The bottom line is this we are responsible for our own sexual behavior and it is our responsibility to protect ourselves from a death sentence. It is not the governments responsiblity. However I can not help but wonder if this epidemic could have been stopped in the beginning if the government would have quarantined the first victims and removed them from the general population.

The new drugs created to prolong AIDS victims lives is wonderful for them and deadly for the rest of us. The drugs keep them living longer but at the same time with them living longer they are here spreading the disease.

maxim7504, you are disgusting really, you are, you want to bring up God and him righting a wrong, now please clarify what wrong are you speaking of? Are you speaking of the unprotected sex, the child being born, or the existence of Black people at all because right now I am feeling like you are just a blatant racist person. and you have said nothing productive as of yet. Gods word says to hate the sin and not the sinner, I cant imagine that you are a saint and your life continues without once faltering from the word of God, do you deserve AIDS, do you deserve all the things that could happen resulting from one time. When you were 21 and you got drunk at that bar and drove home if you died did u deserve to? Please use you education that you claim to have and use your love for presumably the same God that I love and use that what he teaches to help save our brother’s and sisters no matter what color they are. If for no other reason that that which touches one group will touch them all.