According to the latest June 2001 "AIDS New York City" report released by the NYC Department of Health, the AIDS rate in the city is steadily decreasing. Good news? You could say that…if you disregarded the African-American factor. While the overall slope of New York residents infected with the AIDS virus appears encouraging, African Americans nevertheless remain the largest ethnic group infected by the disease…and the statistics are startling. African American men make up 38% of those males infected with AIDS in NYC while African American women make up an outrageous 57% of females.

Medical professionals like Dr. Elsadre, chief of staff at Harlem Hospital Infectious Disease Clinic and infectious disease specialist Dr. Wendy McGahee of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital both point towards a mass miseducation in the black community when it comes to AIDS. AIDS was seen as a "gay white man's disease" in its early a stages; unfortunately, many still view it as such. On July 5, 2001, HarlemLive members trooped out into the city to pick the brains of a few NYC residents on the African-American AIDS epidemic.

Questions:

1. What do you know about the African American AIDS Epidemic?
2. Do you know anyone with AIDS/HIV?Do you know about the effects?
3. What should politicians do to battle this epidemic?

Name: Warren Jones
Occupation: Recruitment Assistant
Residence : Bronx
1. "I know a little bit, but I can't say ."
2. "One family member died from AIDS. My sister would be 30 if she had not died ."
3. "I think they do not do a lot ."

Name: Chata Green
Age: 15
Occupation: Student
Resident: Manhattan
1. "AIDS is transmitted through sex and sharing needles. I think the numbers for African Americansare higher than any other race."
2. "My brother died from AIDS ."
3. "The politicians and major organizations should bring more awareness to the issue ."

Name: Willbe Artwell
Age: 65

Resident: Manhattan
1. "It is very deadly. It is very wide spread in Africa ."
2. "I don't know anyone with AIDS ."
3. "The politicians do not do enough when it comes to the AIDS issue. They are not trying hard enough to provide medicine and information . "

Name: Stephanie
Age: 15
Residence: Harlem
Occupation: Student
1) "I don't know. I think it is equal."
2) " I don't know anyone with AIDS but I know it can definitely kill you"
3) "Politicians should find a way to come up with a cure. They should spend more money founding programs and other things that deal with AIDS."

Name: Patricia
Age: 15
Residence: Harlem
Occupation: Student
1) "African Americans might have a slightly higher percentage. I think that Hispanics have the highest percentage through."
2) "I don't know anyone with the illness. I don't associate with those people. That is why I don't got it."
3) "They are already making commercials. However, Politicians should come up with more ways to bring awareness."

Did you see that? It's interesting how the youngest pedestrians interviewed provided the most accurate responses. This is both positive and negative-- positive in that young people are often focused upon as one of the most experimental age groups; knowledge of the consequences from risky behavior is obviously helpful. On the other hand , a child's first teacher is typically their guardian; it's disturbing to see the older generation in a state of neutrality or blatant ignorance when it comes to such of an important topic. So where do we go from here? EDUCATION IS KEY. If you don't know; find out. The conscious absence of knowledge is a prerequisite for ignorance.

For more information Go to:

2000 National Conference on African Americans and AIDS

African American and HIV/AIDS Video