Death Sweeps the Nation!!

Sex equals death! Or at least that is what many people today believe every since the HIV/AIDS epidemic was put into affect decades ago, and since then, over 944,306 people was reported as a carrier of the virus. The question that is most commonly asked; is why is HIV/AIDS so high amongst African American teenagers? Well, before we answer that question, we must first examine the facts. In today’s society, contracting an STD has become as common as the average cold. We have girls as young as eleven that are participating in sexual activities, having babies, and using drugs. Even though people might believe that HIV/AIDS is contracted by kissing, through the air or water, it isn’t. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the cells of the immune system. HIV is transmitted through an exchange of bodily fluids such as exposure to infected blood, during sexual activity with an infected individual, by sharing needles. It can also pass from an infected mother to her child. HIV is the virus that eventually causes AIDS, an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Among youth age 13 to 19, 57 percent of reported HIV infections occurred among young women and 43 percent occurred among young men. This is because; teens are becoming more and more sexually active. As the numbers continue to grow, revealing that 66 percent amongst non-Hispanic, black youth are also carriers. African Americans and Latinas accounted for 84 percent of cumulative AIDS cases among women ages 13 to 19 and 62 percent of cumulative AIDS cases among men 13 to 19. Ages 13-24 are still contracting HIV at the rate of 2 people per hour. 2 people per hour! But of coarse we have those individuals walking around that believe that they are completely immune to the virus. As a matter a fact, 87% of young Americans whom have contracted the virus said they didn’t believe that they were at risk. Last year, at a HIV awareness rally, a young man, whom is also a carrier of the virus, he spoke to a group of teens about the direction that his life has been in every since he contracted HIV. “This is real. You never know how long you will have to live, because in my eyes, death is my only fate,” the young man said as a look of fear grew on the faces of the teens that sat in the audience.
It isn’t as though people aren’t given the proper protection to save them from getting the virus; its just that many people fail to use them. Many groups and organizations have been founded to help prevent the spreading of this virus. One group in particular, in which I am a part of, is MAGIC (Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization), which is an organization that educates teens about the AIDS epidemic. One of their successes included declaring January 5th as a national holiday, referred to as Teens Test Day. This gives teens from across the United States an opportunity to come out and get tested for HIV. They also participate in lectures, and panel discussions. Finally they are rewarded with a concert, all of which is free of charge, where they are introduced to a variety of music icons.
Last year was the first time that the event was held, where they had over 500 teens and adults to come out and get tested. This year, that number nearly doubled, as the event was held at the South Shore Cultural Center which is located here in the Chicago area. This year we had chess tournaments and x-box 360 tournaments take place, as well as the Think Fast game show, giveaways, a jazz concert and a hip hop concert as well. And this is only the beginning. We plan changing it up a little every year so that our movement and main purpose would spread through the citizens in the city, the state… and even the nation!
This is a very serious issue that lives amongst us today, and is constantly growing on a daily basis. But what are we to do about it? What are we to do about this deadly epidemic that is sweeping not only the nation, but the world as well? People must put their knowledge and understanding at use before it is too late.