The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been afflicting our country for more than three decades and is a disease that severely affects marginalized communities. It’s a well-known fact that Black people account for more than 13% of the population and 43% of new HIV infections, the majority being gay and bisexual men and transgender women.
But the question remains, why are so many black people disproportionately carrying the disease? Unfounded theories usually attribute this to black people engaging in riskier behavior, leading to contracting the disease. While not dismissing the fact that personal responsibility should always be taken into account, there has been no substantial evidence that has found that black populations engage in risk behaviors at any higher rates than other races and ethnicities.
With that being said, it’s time to have a conversation about the REAL reasons behind why black people suffer more at the hands of this pervasive disease.
Here are three factors that impact black people in the struggle with HIV:
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