Ending HIV in Black Communities Requires Collective Action — And Courageous Conversations
Inside the Joliet Room at the Hilton Chicago, urgency filled the air. On July 23, Gilead Sciences, in collaboration with the National Medical Association (NMA), hosted a powerful press briefing with a bold message: The Time Is Now—Let’s End HIV in Our Communities. The title wasn’t just branding—it was a call to action.
Despite decades of medical progress, HIV continues to devastate Black communities. The statistics are sobering. The disparities, undeniable. And the silence? Deafening. But what unfolded during the press briefing wasn’t just a warning—it was a rallying cry. Voices from medicine, activism, and culture joined together with one goal: to turn the tide. And make no mistake—hope is alive.
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This is more than a public health crisis. It is a fight for equity, dignity, and survival. Ending HIV, especially in Black communities, demands more than medical breakthroughs. It requires cultural leadership, systemic accountability, and fearless conversation.
The Hidden Crisis: Black Women and HIV
One of the most sobering truths shared at the event was the disproportionate burden HIV places on Black women. Though Black Americans comprise just 14 percent of the U.S. population, Black women account for nearly 50 percent of new HIV diagnoses among women.
Moderator Jotaka Eaddy, 2025 NMA Women’s Luncheon Keynote Speaker and Founder of #WinWithBlackWomen, shared how she learned that statistic at a Raheem DeVaughn concert—an event held through his partnership with Gilead Sciences.
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Eaddy shared, “I thought to myself, as someone who had gathered nearly 100,000 Black women on one Zoom call, how is it that I did not know this statistic?”
The moment stuck with her. And with good reason.
Why don’t we talk about this more? Because HIV is still shrouded in stigma. Because sexual health remains whispered, not discussed. Because Black women’s pain is under-acknowledged. But that silence is breaking.
A Disproportionate Burden on Black Men and Youth
While the impact on Black women is deeply concerning, the data on Black men is just as stark. According to AIDSVu and the CDC, in 2022, Black men had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses among all male racial and ethnic groups—66 cases per 100,000, compared to 42 per 100,000 among Hispanic men and just nine per 100,000 among white men.
The disparity extends to young people as well. Black youth between the ages of 13 and 24 accounted for 50 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in their age group in 2022, despite being a much smaller share of the total population.
Stigma continues to surround Black masculinity. Because conversations about sexual health among men—especially Black men—are still clouded by silence, shame, and harmful stereotypes. Acknowledging this crisis forces us to confront long-standing gaps in access, education, and culturally competent care.
But just like for Black women, that silence is finally beginning to break.
Medical Breakthroughs Mean Little Without Access
We know the science works. People with HIV who receive treatment can live a normal lifespan. We know that undetectable equals untransmittable (U=U)—when viral loads are suppressed, HIV cannot be passed on. And we know PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a proven method of prevention, available since 2012.
But knowing isn’t enough. Access remains the dividing line between innovation and impact.
According to Deborah Wafer, Executive Director of U.S. Public Affairs at Gilead Sciences, and Dr. Toyin Nwafor, Executive Director of U.S. HIV Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences, prevention isn’t reaching the people most at risk. In 2023, Black people made up only 14 percent of PrEP users, despite representing 39 percent of new HIV diagnoses. Only eight percent of PrEP users were women, though women make up 19 percent of new diagnoses.
This is not a failure of science. It is a failure of systems, outreach, and equity.
From Experience to Advocacy: Voices on the Front Lines
Dr. Keith Green, Executive Director of the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, shared his story of living with HIV since the age of 17.
“As someone who has been living with HIV since 1994… our mission is that other young people experimenting… have the tools that they need, the resources that they need to live their healthiest, best sex lives,” he said.
Green emphasized that treatment alone isn’t enough. Providers must meet people with respect and cultural understanding. Systems must center those living with HIV, not just in research, but in policy, access, and care.
The Power of Cultural Messengers
Grammy-winning R&B artist Raheem DeVaughn brought both star power and deep conviction to the conversation. He’s been working in HIV advocacy since 2012, using his platform to educate and empower.
“When I heard the statistics about how Black women are being impacted, I immediately thought about the responsibility we have as Black men too. We have to normalize going to the doctor, getting tested, and talking about what’s going on in our bodies,” he shared.
DeVaughn didn’t just talk the talk—he also shared that he’s on PrEP himself.
“I’ve been on PrEP for the last few years… finding a primary care doctor is very important. Before we could even get into the blood work, we were talking about PrEP and HIV and statistics… I’m very passionate about the work,” he added.
And the urgency was clear.
“100 Americans die every week from HIV-related illnesses. Seven hundred are newly diagnosed,” DeVaughn shared.
This is not an LGBTQ issue. This is not a heterosexual issue. This is a people issue.
He called on faith leaders, HBCUs, and cultural influencers to help shift the narrative.
“We have to stop acting like this doesn’t affect us… We pray. But we also need to act. That means putting the information in front of people and having these conversations everywhere—from barbershops to HBCUs,” he said.
A New Standard for Sexual Health
Throughout the briefing, one key message came through loud and clear: Everyone has an HIV status, and knowing it should be normalized.
“This is something we can do something about. Everybody has a status—just like we know our blood pressure, we should know our HIV status. It should be a normal part of our wellness check,” Wafer said.
Sexual health is also an essential part of overall well-being.
“We talk about physical health, mental health, and preventive care. Sexual health deserves the same weight in our homes, in our communities, and especially in our exam rooms,” Nwafor explained.
The stigma must end. And so must the silence—especially around heterosexual transmission, which accounts for 91 percent of new infections among Black women.
The Tools Are Here—Now Comes the Work
We already have what we need to end HIV. What’s missing is equal access and bold implementation.
We need doctors who bring up PrEP, patients who feel safe asking questions, and media that tell these stories with clarity and urgency. Most of all, we need more messengers who can speak to communities with trust and truth.
As the briefing concluded, one message rose above the rest: Ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities begins with ending the silence.
The epidemic is not over—but neither is our power to stop it.
