Essay Excerpts
TIME TO BREAK THE SILENCE By Congresswoman Barbara Lee
HIV/AIDS is devastating our community, and unless we stand up and fight for our right to live, we will continue to suffer and die because of this preventable and treatable disease.

We know that African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. We know that African American women are increasingly bearing the brunt of this disease - so much so that AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women between the ages of 24-34.

We know the low down about the down low-men leading double-lives, having sex with other men and passing the virus onto women-and we've gotten over the hype.

We know that our so-called "criminal system" is breaking apart the black family by sending our men to prison to serve as the entry point for HIV, Hepatitis C and other diseases into our communities. We also know, and the statistics show, that our kids are the ones most at risk of getting infected.

In short, we know what the problem is. Now we have to act. We have to mobilize ourselves, our families, our friends, our church leaders, our communities, and our government to take action.

It is time to break the silence! Read More

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