December 1, 2008 marks the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day. The day was designed to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.
According to the Harambee Newspaper, "Half a million African Americans have HIV." and although African Americans are "only 13 percent of the U.S. population, African Americans account for half of new HIV infections, according to a report by the Black Aids Institute."
"The AIDS epidemic for Africans in America is severe as some parts of the African continent," reports Harambee.
Last fall, The Black Hour producers Brother Reggie and Drea Mos, along with members of the Laney Black Student Union (BSU), organized free HIV/AIDS testing for about 150students.
A few weeks later, Get Screened Oakland, also held free testing.
This service did not happen this year. However, the epidemic is not over. The "State of Emergency" in Alameda County, has not ended. Therefore, we the people, need to work together to end this crisis. In all communities, but particularly in the Black/African global community.
So how can you best commemorate this World AIDS Day? Get Screened!
Here are some resources to help:
HIV Test
U.S. Gov-AIDS
Get Screened Oakland Testing Sites
World AIDS Day
Black AIDS Institute
National Black HIV/AIDS Day is February 7, 2009. For more information, please visit Black AIDS Day. If you would like to help us organize for Black AIDS Day in the Bay Area, please contact us at The Black Hour
-Brother Reggie, on behalf of TBH
