I wrote this letter in honor of my Uncle Gene who died of AIDS twenty years ago. Sorry for the length of the diary but it was my best tribute to a man who stood in the place of my own father. There's more below the fold.
Dear Uncle Gene,
I never had the chance to say goodbye. I was too young to realize why you died. You departed the day my little sister arrived - October 21, 1986. When you were here, you brought us nothing but joy and nicknames for my twin sister and I too - Wrecker and Breaker (pronounced brecker) because we broke your good shit!
After we found out you died, our folks kept secrets hidden for sometime. We heard whispers and we heard a lot of lies. We learned about a disease called AIDS. I was too young to understand but I heard it was a disease for white gay men. Ignorance ruled at that time, Ronald Reagan was President and being a gay black man was a crime. Rock Hudson, Liberace, and other white victims too. You, Uncle Gene, Aunt so and so, Cousin what’s-his-name, and other brown victims... What! And who??
You never kept your sexuality secret and twin and I loved you more than life. You taught us to just be ourselves, love who we are, and that the woman is always right! You instilled pride, dignity, and blackness in two lil’ pickney fools. You were a proud veteran, you were original, and you made the dullest shit cool.
Family reunions were never the same after you went home. I want you to know that Breaker and I will keep fighting, keep caring, and we will keep your memory strong. We love you Uncle Gene and we miss you everyday. We dedicate this letter to you on World AIDS Day.
Sincerely,
Shanay aka Wrecker
and
Kisha aka Breaker
Oh and one more thing...
HIV/AIDS is killing African Americans nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 49% of people infected with HIV/AIDS are African American although Blacks represent 13% of the population. Here are some facts from the CDC:
When we look at HIV/AIDS by race and ethnicity, we see that African Americans have
• More illness. Even though blacks (including African Americans) account for about 13% of the US population, they account for about half (49%) of the people who get HIV and AIDS.
• Shorter survival times. Blacks with AIDS often don’t live as long as people of other races and ethnic groups with AIDS. This is due to the barriers mentioned above.
• More deaths. For African Americans and other blacks, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death.
It is a scary prospect to fathom if you are African American. An astounding 41% of men living with HIV/AIDS are black and 64% of women living with HIV/AIDS are black. Statistics for young black people under 25 are just as frightening; they make up 61% of HIV/AIDS cases.
We need to wake up! Get tested, get treatment and use protection! The United States desperately needs a national AIDS strategy. The AIDS strategy should include regular testing, more comprehensive sex education, and outreach to the African American population. Activists, religious leaders, and everyday citizens must work together to destroy the barriers of shame of HIV/AIDS in the African American community.
This is a national health crisis. HIV/AIDS victims are dying prematurely because they do not have health care and access to treatment. The American HIV/AIDS epidemic is one more reason why our country needs universal healthcare.
During the second presidential debate, Senator Barack Obama said that health care "should be a right for every American." It was one of the best moments of the campaign. 47,000,000 Americans do not have insurance and one out of four African Americans is living in poverty. As a result, African Americans are less likely to seek medical attention, treatment, and HIV testing.
In honor of the victims of HIV/AIDS including my Uncle Gene, our congressional representatives must pass a high-standard universal health care bill. President-elect Obama must sign and enact it immediately.
Thank you for reading my post.