Robert Bailey II, Dr. Donna Hubbard McCree, Marvelyn Brown, Lyfe Jennings, Jeff Johnson, Jeremih
Marvelyn Brown, Jeremih, Kevin Reeves, Jeff Johnson, Dr. Donna Hubbard McCreeEarlier this month, AULYP visited the launch of the CDC’s new initiative, i know, that provides HIV awareness and prevention tools to young African-Americans and encourages dialogue about the issue. We went behind the scenes and interviewed Jeff Johnson, award-winning journalist, social activist and political commentator and Dr. Donna Hubbard McCree, team lead and behavioral scientist in CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
The Kaiser Family Foundation found in a recent survey that the concern about HIV among African-Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 is declining. That's troubling seeing that African-Americans face the most severe rates of HIV and AIDS in the nation. While Blacks make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, they represent nearly half of the 56,000 new HIV infections that occur each year and half of the more than 14,000 AIDS deaths each year.
We spoke directly to Johnson and Dr. McCree to find out why this may be happening and how we as young professionals can help.
According to Dr. McCree, the burdens of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in African-American communities are higher than other communities. Poverty, higher incarceration rates, stigmas and lack of access to care are some of the factors that are contributing to the HIV/AIDS problem in African- Americans. There are economic burdens, stigmas and discrimination issues.
According to Dr. McCree, the burdens of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in African-American communities are higher than other communities. Poverty, higher incarceration rates, stigmas and lack of access to care are some of the factors that are contributing to the HIV/AIDS problem in African- Americans. There are economic burdens, stigmas and discrimination issues.
According to Jeff Johnson, “We have to get over whether we have been personally affected by HIV/AIDS, we are all affected by this and a lot of people are blase about it." He also added that people aren’t really shocked by HIV/AIDS anymore because the face of HIV/AIDS is no longer sick. But whether or not the face is still the same, the impact is still the same.
When asked what we as young professionals can do, Dr. McCree said “We know the science. We need your voice.” African-Americans tend to be silent about the issue. Research indicates that the simple act of talking about HIV can help change the course of the epidemic – by reducing stigma, increasing knowledge about HIV prevention, and motivating life-saving behaviors.
Become a part of the solution. Break the silence, begin conversation or take part in existing conversations. For more information on the entire Act Against Aids campaign, visit http://www.actagainstaids.org/ or http://nineandahalfminutes.org/.
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