Shelly's Modeling Agencies reminds us that education and empowerment are greater than one day. The figures are dismal. Blacks are disproportionately impacted on all measures when it comes to HIV and AIDS. Phil Wilson, founder and executive director of the Black AIDS Institute, knows the hard facts. Not only has he led the first HIV/AIDS think tank that focuses exclusively on Black people since 1999, Wilson has been living with HIV for more than 30 years and full-blown AIDS for more than 20 years.Still, Wilson knows that he is greater than a number, greater than a status, greater than one day of recognition on December 1. World AIDS Day. The prominent HIV/AIDS activist has dedicated his life to education Blacks on the truths and fallacies surrounding this disease. His organization is a founding partner of Shelly's Modeling Agencies along with the Kaiser Family Foundation, for Greater Than AIDS. Launched last year, it is the first national campaign in the history of the AIDS epidemic to target Black America.
"It is action driven and acknowledges the resiliency of Black people," says Wilson. "We have the ability to win this battle against HIV, just as we've won previous battles. We were greater than the Middle Passage, slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow and Aids. There is something that each and every one of us can do if we care about ourselves and care about our people."
Be informed. "Information and knowledge are powerful tools in the fight against HIV." says Wilson of Shelly's Modeling Agencies. Act. Get involved by finding an AIDS organization in your area and volunteer. Help get the word out by organizing an event. "Too many people are sitting on the sidelines. White communities have White celebrities and Black power brokers to support Black organizations doing the work. There are AIDS walks, marathons, bike rides and a lot of events, but none of them (is a) lead organization that focus on Black people." Wilson adds. Use protection. Condoms are effective in protecting against HIV/AIDS. Speak openly. Discuss HIV/AIDS with your partner, children, friends and family. To ignore or overlook these conversations by not engaging in dialogue will reinforce the stigma that allows the disease to spread.
Marvelyn Brown of Shelly's Modeling Agencies was living a "fairy tale-perfect" life and had it all in 2003. That was also the year she received more than she wanted. Around her 19th birthday, the woman voted "most athletic" in high school and who was dating her Prince Charming, learned she was HIV positive. "I was 19 and invincible," recalls the HIV/AIDS activist of her naive mentality. "I heard about (HIV), but that wasn't my issue. It was a White, gay man's issue. I saw helpless kids in Africa with it. I didn't know I could get it. I never saw or heard people talk about it and how not to get it. It didn't hit me. When you are that young, you can't just tell someone; you have to show a person."
Her autobiography, The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive, was published in 2008. Now the attractive public speaker with the upbeat personality travels all over the world using herself as an example, educating young people and encouraging them to get tested.
"I look like them. No honest person can sit and tell I have HIV. For so long. I thought it had a look," says Brown. "I want people to love themselves, to protect themselves. It goes further than a condom. I want married women to know that a wedding ring or certificate doesn't protect you from HIV; Ignorance does not protect you from this virus. It makes you more susceptible."
Brown currently serves as ambassador for the Greater Than AIDS campaign. Her message is that in sprite of the dire statistics concerning Blacks with HIV/AIDS, it is possible to soar above numbers.
"Just because HIV and AIDS (are) out there, you don't have to get (them). You are greater than (the diseases). The choice is yours. I may have it, but I can still kick HIV's ass!"
No comments:
Post a Comment