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Sept. 30, 2005 Thanks to the likes of author J.L. King and talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, the alarming rise in the number of black women being afflicted with AIDS has been attributed to black MSMs (men who have sex with other men, but who do not consider themselves bi- or homosexual). The media has played this up as a new phenomenon and it is known in the black community as, "the down low", or "dl". It is essentially being "in the closet" and is no more prevalent among black men than it is whites. If MSMs were the primary source of such transmission, it is only fair to assume that we would see a similar rise in the infection rates of white and Latino women. The Centers for Disease Control recognizes that there is no evidence suggesting that black MSMs are more likely than other groups of men to be HIV infected or sexually active. (1) The numbers are downright frightening: Four years ago, HIV/AIDS was among the four leading causes of death for African American women aged 25–54. It was the number 1 cause of death for African American women aged 25–34 years. This is a rate 19 times that of white females. (2) While it is clear that black women are likely to be infected by men, there is no discernible evidence suggesting that the majority of theses men are MSMs, although they do count for a small part of this increase. Some of this is due to these women’s use of intravenous drugs and subsequently working as prostitutes to support their habit ("hotdogging"). This entails having sex with multiple partners, many of whom are also drug abusers and who do not use protective measures against sexually-transmitted disease. (3) Being under the influence of alcoholic beverages has also been linked to an increase in risky behavior (e.g., prostitution, high number of sex partners, infrequent condom use and drug abusers sharing needles). Several studies have made the connection between crack use and not only risky behaviors, but also high rates of sexually transmitted diseases. (4,5) Still, operating on the dl is a dangerous proposition. And despite the fact many of these males have wives or girlfriends, it is still a subject black men are uneasy about discussing. Black homosexuals have always been subject to attacks by black institutions, in particular the membership of the church. "It is not that there is more homophobia in the African American community, but that the fear of coming out may be higher. There is no Chelsea or Castro (district) for black gays...so they stay in the communities that are havens against an often-hostile world...Thus they end up on the down low." (6) This abhorrence extends to the issue of gay marriage as well. Pastor Harry Jackson Jr., pastor of Hope Christian Church in College Park, Maryland asserts, "Historically, when societies have gone off kilter, there has been rampant same-sex marriage." (7) Thus black gays are not only viewed as "nasty", or "immoral", but the beginning of the ruination of society. King, whose misinformation became a bestseller made the following claim on the Oprah Winfrey show: "As far as DL brothers being demonized, yeah I think that's what it's gonna take in order for women to know that they are sleeping with the enemy. If you're white and you're closeted your community won't ostracize you...that's why [DL men] would rather infect their girlfriends or their wives." (8) His unfounded accusations implies that black men are intentionally infecting females and being secretive solely for that reason. The idea that black MSMs are the reason for the increased rates of HIV and AIDS was countered in an article that appeared on the Black Commentator website. "Of the eight medical doctors, public health professionals, HIV-AIDS treatment and testing providers and advocates on the case level and the policy level whom BC interviewed for this article, not one could be found to co-sign the notion that ‘down low bruthas’ are chiefly responsible for the epidemic of HIV-AIDS among black women." (9) This would directly contradict King’s assertion. In that same article Dr. David Malebranche, responded to King’s appearance. "Demonizing Black male sexuality has been a staple of American culture since slavery ...The (Oprah Winfrey) show misquoted HIV statistics, offered sensationalistic generalizations, and portrayed down low men as hedonistic predators who carelessly have unprotected sex with men and women. It did all of this in an effort to convince Oprah’s faithful audience that the current HIV epidemic among Black women is mainly Due to the down-low, or ‘DL,’ brothers…" (10) Malebranche adds, "Why is it that now we need a new name for this behavior, aside from our need to blame and demonize black men, and distract our attention from what’s really going on? Most of it [AIDS] comes from one place—unprotected sex." (11) The most frightening piece of data might be 25% of people in the United States who are infected with HIV do not know it. (12) A study of MSMs revealed that 77% of those who tested HIV-positive believed that they were not infected 59% believed they were at very low risk of contracting the disease. (13) In summation, the causes for the increase in AIDS rates among black females is many-faceted. The issue should be dealt with through schools, churches and various social service agencies. But the media also plays a role in the distribution of information. First and foremost, they must impart the FACTS. Celebrity, sensationalism and know-it-all-ism should not be part of any broadcast that aims to enlighten the black community. The message is null and void if it is spewed by powerful people who lack knowledge and the moral inoperative to get the facts straight. Sources: "HIV/AIDS among African Americans," National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention Kim Pearson, "Black Christians, the Homosexuality Debate, and the American Creed", The Revealer, August 5, 2004 HIV/AIDS among Minority Races and Ethnicities in the United States, 1999–2003 Hazel D. Dean, ScD, MPH; C. Brooke Steele, DO; Anna J. Satcher, MPH; and Allyn K. Nakashima, MD Keith Boykin, "What Should Black People Do About AIDS?" July 10, 2001. Originally posted on Gay.com 1. Centers for Disease Control, "HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2003 (Vol. 15)", Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2004:1–46. 2. Hader S, Smith D, Moore J, Holmberg S, "HIV infection in women in the United States: status at the millennium", Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001;285:1186–11. 3. Leigh B, Stall R. Substance use and risky sexual behavior for exposure to HIV: issues in methodology, interpretation, and prevention. American Psychologist 1993;48:1035–1045. 4. Fullilove MT, Golden E, Fullilove RE, et al. Crack cocaine use and highrisk sexual behaviors among sexually active black adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 1993;14:295–300. 5. Cohen E, Navaline H, Metzger D. High-risk behaviors for HIV: a comparison between crack-abusing and opiod-abusing African-American women. J Psychoactive Drugs. 1994;26:333–341. 6. Linda Villarosa, at "Focus on Women: Challenges in the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS", on October 19, 2001. 7. Erin Curry, "Views on homosexuality get leader the boot", Baptist Press, Sept. 23, 2005 8. Transcript of the Oprah Winfrey show, "A Secret Sex World: Living on the ‘Down Low’", Executive Producer Ellen Rakieten, April 16, 2004, page 11. 9-11. Bruce Dixon, "The Lowdown on the Downlow", blackccommentator.com, Issue 149, September 8, 2005 12. Glynn M, Rhodes P. Estimated HIV prevalence in the United States at the end of 2003. National HIV Prevention Conference; June 2005; Atlanta.Abstract 595. 13. MacKellar DA, Valleroy L, Secura G, et al. Unrecognized HIV infection, risk behaviors, and perceptions of risk among young men who have sex with men: opportunities for advancing HIV prevention in the third decade of HIV/AIDS. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2005;38:603–614. ------------ About the author: Timothy Stelly is the 46-year old author of "Tempest In The Stone" and the soon to be released, "The Malice of Cain". His third novel, "Darker Than Blue" is under consideration for publication. Mr. Stelly currently resides in Pittsburg, California with his three youngest children Dante, Kimberly and Lawrence. Excerpts from The first two books and the first two chapters of his anthology, "Frankenigga--And Other Urban Tales" can be viewed at: stellbread0.tripod.com Email: stellbread@sbcglobal.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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