National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: A Man Speaks Up
Given this truth, to be quiet means I am accepting of this. It is men like me, heterosexual, straight, clean-cut corporate type, playa-playa or thugged out. It is the pastor in the church and the pimp on the corner. It is the “brotha” in the prison uniform, sport uniform, or military uniform. We are losing our sisters, therefore the Black family and community because as men, we have forgotten where our manhood comes from.
A man’s “swagger” shouldn’t be because of how many women he had in one week but in how many years he has had one woman. His shoulders shouldn’t be puffed up because he is paying her rent and utilities but because they are sharing a home. He should be complimenting her when she is on her own two feet and not when she is on her back or knees. Until we, as men, start contributing to a woman’s education through the university’s scholarship fund and not the strip club, Black women’s HIV rates will continue to be the highest in the country. Today, there will be discussion about condom negotiation, healthy relationships, and empowerment. All those require partnership, engagement, and cooperation by us, not debate or dissension. On our blog will be a badge in commemoration of the “Red Pump Project”. Although, I won’t be rocking any 3 inch heels, I will be wearing something red to show my sisters that this battle is not theirs alone. It has taken me approximately 3 hours to write this blog. In that timeframe, approximately 6 women have become infected with HIV. Wear Condoms. Get Tested. Be Safe.
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Tags: African American Women, Aniz, HIV/AIDS, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, NWGHAAD, Red Pump Project, SisterLove, Wise Words Between Women
I appreciate your insight into the male psyche. (Not just African American men, but my Latino brotha’ as well). For long women have accepted and endured the stigma that we had to have done something wrong. That we are deserving and should be accepting of what we are “dished out”. I can appreciate any man that can speak with profound appreciation of women and the need for men to take personal responsibility for their actions. Head the warning men, while the women population may seem bountiful at the moment, what is happening may be the pre-cursor to what will inevitably be the end to the means. We began with Adam….what does it take to make sure we don’t end up with the same ending?