Does Black America Need White Support in Order to Combat HIV, AIDS Epidemic? Essay

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), the deadly disease caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has plagued countries all around the globe. From the statistical reports of 2006, it was found that almost two-third of the total HIV infected population of the world and three-fourth of the total deaths due to AIDS is among the black community. It is also reported that in 2006 alone, 1.9 million people from the black community were added to the list of those infected with the deadly retrovirus. (Robson, 101)The economic instability, the lack of education and improper health care facilities all attribute to the spread of the epidemic in the black community which is set to rise in the coming years. The disease in return would reciprocate its own deadly consequences upon the social and economic conditions of the community and measures need to be taken to control this evil and this cannot be done without the help of the white support.

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Background

It is true that the African-American Civil Rights Movement from1955 to1968 refers to the reorganization movements in the United States intended at put an end to racial favoritism and it was predominantly mobilized by African Americans. By 1966, the surfacing of the Black Power Movement, which lasted approximately from 1966 to 1975, distended and increasingly eclipsed the aspires of the Civil Rights Movement to comprise racial poise, monetary and political self-sufficiency, and liberty from white influence. Several intellectuals refer to the movement as the Second rebuilding, a name that alludes to the renovation after the Civil War. (Stainton, 221) The matter of HIV/AIDS is very different.

HIV/AIDS

The AIDS virus is not able to penetrate skin therefore the basic mechanism of the AIDS spreads only when it is exposed to the flesh or blood. Therefore it could be concluded that the activation and infection of the AIDS virus is only possible through blood as it is the only medium through it is transmitted and not by the means of saliva, tears, or sweat. But there are enough evidence that the virus can be transmitted via body fluids like breast milk, semen, vaginal fluids and obviously blood. (Kumaranayake, 451-466) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities regarding HIV/AIDS play a vital role in creating awareness among the people of the region. They do so by a number of activities such as conducting street plays and role play skits, involving high profile celebrities in creating awareness, displaying hoardings and posters, conducting discussions on radio and televisions. However, these messages are highly irrelevant to the poverty stricken people as they do not have the resources to do what they are urged to do. Thus, unless the socio-economic conditions of the poor are not realized and improved their behaviors are unlikely to change. (Gould, 473-484)

Civil Rights movement

Martin Luther King led a resurgent black movement. He was influenced by Gandhian modes of resistance and tried to lead the black movement from such a position. The oppressive race regime in the United States of America was never addressed in this way before King. It all started out with an n incident of a black lady riding on a bus. Usually the sitting spaces were segregated. The dark skinned people were not allowed to sit with the whites. In a similar situation a black lady refused to get up from her seat and make way for her white co traveler. The Lady’s name was Rosa Parx. That was perhaps the beginning of the dream, the dream that Martin Luther King lived and died for. In other words certain solidarity was to be based on skin color where activism of whatever kind would work with the pre assumption that the oppressed nature of the black existence was a universal truth. The blacks all over the world had to unite to fight against the multifarious oppressions of racism. This was an activist’s point of view and was very significant for it was one the earliest theorization of race relations by a black man which was taken seriously by the world at large. These achievements need great willpower and strength but the fight against HIV/AIDS needs much more and thus the support of the white population is so needed. (Stainton, 221)

Conclusion

In conclusion it can be stated that domestically, HIV treatment and prevention programs have to be mobilized at a faster rate. The community’s health, education, communications and other infrastructure has to be developed for the cause of HIV epidemic. Government needs to address policies and programs to efficiently improve the basic infrastructure of the community especially education, and sustain resources. More and more AIDS awareness and prevention