As I Die Slowly

Can I tell you a secret? AIDS is killing my family, friends, people who could have impacted my life and people who would have impacted children’s lives. We are losing criminals and leaders, rich and poor, idiots and scholars. But here is the biggest secret…if it wasn’t such a secret it could all be avoided.
We all know the facts.
Although blacks only constitute 13 percent of the population, they represent one half of all new AIDS cases. It is the second leading cause of death for blacks between the ages of 35 and 44, as well as the leading cause of death of black women between the ages of 25 and 34. We know blacks have accounted for 40 percent of all AIDS cases since the beginning of the epidemic, as well as knowing that blacks do not live as long as other races with AIDS. The fact that there are more black children under the age of thirteen diagnosed with AIDS than all other races combined is known by us. AIDS is no longer considered a gay disease as first thought in the 1980’s, it’s a black problem!
Or do we know all this?
The evidence is everywhere, available to all who choose to seek the knowledge. But it is such a taboo within the black community that no one discusses it. We know how to protect ourselves from AIDS, but we forget to do the most important step, talk.
Spoken word has been apart of black tradition since the beginning of time, especially in America. When we were not allowed to read we shared our history through the spoken word. When we were oppressed we revolutionized by the spoken word. So why are we letting each other die by not speaking?
We cannot allow ourselves to disappear because our pride has us afraid and embarrassed to talk to our sexual partners about what is going on.
And we definitely don’t need any more of our brothers and sisters dying because “it feels good.”
Our main problem with AIDS is sexually based, mainly through stupidity. I do not have a problem with promiscuity, but be smart about it. Get tested on a regular basis and don’t be afraid to ask your partners if they have been. Matter of fact, ask all the questions you want to know. Find out their history and be open about yours. What are you more afraid of, the person walking out on you or death?
And finally, sex without a condom may feel good, hell it feels great, but I’m pretty sure that AIDS and dying does not feel good. I’m pretty sure there are many people in the world who got burned that feel dumb because they knew the condom was right in their wallet and they neglected it.
Sex is a beautiful thing, but it is sacred for a reason. If you can’t abstain, then use your head. You can enjoy it as much as you want, with as many people as you want, as long as you protect yourself and stay alive. If nothing else is motivation to make you protect yourself, at least remember that every time you use a condom and are open with your partner, you assure yourself of another chance to have sex.
We cannot keep this a secret any more. As long as we do, we are saying that we condone the spreading of AIDS. If you do nothing about the enlightenment, then you assist in the ignorance. We do still fight against ignorance, don’t we?
Trying to Uplift My Folks