ABC AIDS Special: Help or Hype?

Ryan
August 24 2006, 11:52AM

This topic is entirely frustrating. I get so sick of the "mainstream" media stepping in (the alleged leftist elite) and discussing issues with biased individuals who perpetuate stereotypes. I know, I know, I haven't even seen it yet...but as you say, I won't hold my breath. How can one discuss HIV/AIDS without the perspective of a gay or lesbian voice? And why am I not surprised.

Pegues
August 24 2006, 12:01PM

Thanks for giving us a heads up on watching this show tonight. My busy schedule of work, tutoring elementary students, working on my PH.D., and helping my partner complete his M.Ed., I have little time to enjoy the simple pleasures of lounging and watching T.V.! I am very interested in what these people have to say! I concur with you when you say that this can end being more detrimental than beneficial. The Black community still harbors a high level of ignorance, especially in the South where I live, when it comes to issues such as homosexuality and HIV/AIDS! So hopefully this special will promote people to not be afraid of the disease or whom they are, encourage them to seek assistance in preventing the spread of STD's, and renew confidence in those that have low-self esteem!!

cmoney
August 24 2006, 12:53PM

It doesn't surprise me that ABC news would emphasize a religious aspect to this epidemic. It seems every night on World News Tonight, there is at least one story about prayer, religion, the Pope, churches, faith or the like. I haven't noticed these types of stories on other news broadcasts. I thought that sort of thing belonged on the "700 Club" and not the news. It gets really irritating to see some story about what one faith believes presented as news that everyone should be interested in. They are obviously catering to their old and half dead audience since all of the commercials are for products for false teeth, constipation, diarrhea high cholesterol, diabetes, life insurance, incontinence and gas. Since they don't cater their news to me, I won't be watching.

bellalove
August 24 2006, 1:09PM

Your entry is full of more facts than most HIV/AIDS preventive websites. We have to realize that telling people NOT to have sex is the wrong way to go about it. We have to educate EVERYONE on taking steps to ensure proper health. Thanks for such an informative article.

jared
August 24 2006, 2:14PM

when are these "church folk," a term i use loosely as i have no respect for any of them, going to get off this gay thing? i know that these mega "pastors" are getting all their bling bling from the GOP, but, come on now, if they don't get their heads out of the sand, and hands out of the tax payers pockets, they aren't going to have any members to whine to and profit from.

algie
August 24 2006, 2:33PM

i gotta work tonight and to find out thats what i'm recording tonight...to a world sick with taking steps backwards...get well soon

Jeff S.
August 24 2006, 3:10PM

My first thought after viewing the promo for this show was why isn't the mainstream black media (????) producing programs of this magnitude. It appears as if we have to wait on the mainstream press (white) to discuss topics that are relevant to the black community before we can begin to deal with anything. There are enough black journalist and media types who can come together and produce a show depicting whatever message they deem necessary. But instead we are always perched to react rather than be proactive. BET will devote prime time for a special interview with R. Kelly yet during he wee hours of the morning they presented a show discussing homosexuality in the black community. What I did see of the program was interesting. This program should have received the kinda attention that R. Kelly received. No I have not seen the Primetime special and Yes I do plan to watch. At least they are willing to began the discussion. Hopefully they will honest, fair, and accurate in their presentation.

Chet
August 24 2006, 6:16PM

I am certain that much of the coverage given will be negative and that the African American Community will be given the wrong impression and not enough valid information.

Marlon
August 24 2006, 6:33PM

If you haven’t, you gotta get hip to the Michael Eric Dyson show at http://www.dysontalk.net

Today he discussed tonight’s ABC documentary. Boy, oh boy, did Mike ‘spit’ like no other; he spanked azz!! The brotha gives me a mental climax.

Today, a Muslim and Christian caller voiced taking steps to change gay’s behavior, etc.. They think Mike will obey the scribbles of the Bible because he's a Rev.. Mike says that God never condemned gays – man did.

I listen to this brotha errday online, and immediately following Mike is the Rev.Al Sharpton show. Al is hilarious! Both have provocative topics and guest. It's six continuous hours of POWER! Check it out!

DeeJay
August 24 2006, 8:37PM

I, for one, am well aware of ABC's agenda when it comes to demonizing ALL of our community.

At the same time, I know some black folks - gay and straight, male and female - who could care less about themselves, much less the black community at-large when it comes to their sexual behavior.

So, if tonight's broadcast is an opportunity for some to see a reflection in a mirror, to begin dialogue, or educate some young people who have not yet been directly touched by AIDS, I'm all for it.

I, for one, have learned how to eat the meat and leave the bones.

Kenneth Winfrey
August 24 2006, 10:45PM

I'm with DJ.

We must accept that the majority of the population doesn't really want to hear the extent of our positions and perspectives.

Whether the show lives up to our needs or not, think of how many times they'll say the words "HIV," "AIDS," and talk about access to healthcare. I hope that at least makes an impact. Perhaps they need to see the faces of what appear to be "ordinary" people impacted by HIV so that "ordinary" people will take notice. Whatever percentage of us on the DL that there are, they definitely need to hear this message...

While DL activity shouldn't be considered an HIV epidemiological factor, it represents a 3 of our most serious issues: sex, masculinity, and deviance.

Tolerance is a 2-way street. After all, at the heart of these misperceptions/ misrepresentations are ignorance and fear. They get on my nerves too, but then I remember that they are only capable of understanding us to a certain degree. Progress is slow but they need to be alive to make it.

Steve
August 24 2006, 11:00PM

Keith, I'm not completely in step with you on this, because I think the strategy that you condemn as "sex negative" is actually the best thing we have going. On the other hand, IF I hear ONE MORE TIME about women, straight people, children, etc getting AIDS and the TRAGEDY of it all, with never no never mind paid to the gay men who get the disease, I am ready to mf explode. Nobody gave a good god dam about AIDS until some poor innocent white boy got the disease. And nobody considered it a serious health threat until straight people got the disease. Well, I for one am GD FED UP with this straight bullshit whining on the topic when the fact is gay men, especially gay men of color, are so hard hit by the epidemic and so COMPLETELY ignored when the issue is addressed. FED F'ING UP.

Sometimes I'd just like to go infect a bunch of straight MF's......

Mel Smith
August 24 2006, 11:25PM

Steve, I agree with your views and I think feel exactly how you feel. The white news reporter made a positive message at the end of the program. He said that anti gay prejudice and women hating attitudes have to end in our community. I actually think he was being real when he said it. I am a black man and I think we play a major role in hurting each other in our communities.

Bari
August 24 2006, 11:28PM

I have seen and heard countless programs and seminars on the epidemic we know as HIV/AIDS. To me, they all scream the same message which is, abstinence, education, condom usage, proper parenting, proper spiritual guidance as well as the where, when, how’s and why’s in order to place blame. The intended audience is always the percentage of people who are not yet infected, or who do not know their individual status. It is in my opinion that the problem lies in how our society views the current victims of HIV/AIDS. We need more programming that will shed light on how to take away the stigmatisms that surround our family members, our friends, our co-workers and our acquaintances who are currently living with the disease. We must never forget them, because when we do, we place them in a crucial situation that may fool them into making bad sexual decisions in order to fill their need for sexual companionship, love and comfort. We need more programming on how to effectively target the root of self-hate, and

Alex
August 24 2006, 11:38PM

After watching tonights program, I looked past the politics, the sensationalized stories, and the hype. And saw the root that we have a problem. That still, regardless of everything we have done, is not going away, or getting smaller, or being treated effectively.

I produce a talk show on my campus that we also webcast. I am going to make it my number one priority that we do a show based on this topic alone, and sepcifically how it relates to christians. Because thats what I am. I am not going to debate spiritual issues because that distracts from the issue that people in our community are diying.

I have to do something, and I have to do it now, as should the rest of us. And it looks like what we are doing right now isn't enough.

Maybe we need some media workers like myself to get together and present a news package that we feel addresses the problem correctly. If we are going to talk we neeed to network and mobilize. And mobilize again.

Carlos
August 25 2006, 1:00AM

"Second, promiscuity is not the real enemy. Promiscuity does not cause AIDS. I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again, you could have sex everyday of your life with a different partner and never become infected with HIV or any other sexually-transmitted disease. Or you could be a virgin who has sex one time in your life and becoming infected the very first time. HIV causes AIDS, not promiscuity."

I disagree. While individuals who were monogamous with their partner can and have contracted HIV, statistically the numbers are a low percentage of the overall population that has contracted HIV through sexual contact, especially of male HIV positive individuals. We are talking about reducing risks, and the two biggest factors in contracting HIV are having multiple sexual partners and not using condoms consistently and properly. Even amongst people who don't use condoms, the number of HIV infections is very low amongst people who are 100% monogamous with partners who are 100% monogamous.

Gary
August 25 2006, 1:27AM

Although I was glad that ABC devoted a full special to AIDS in the black community, I was disturbed that black men were demonized. Somehow, black men are responsible for getting infected with HIV, but black women are not. Unfortunately, there seems to be little social space for black gay and bisexual men and none that is acceptable to most churches, many families, and society at large. The tragedy is that many black gay men live their lives trying to get approval from these churches and homophobic families. If someone's sexual orienation is gay, it is important to be true to oneself, honest in one's relations, and use a condom when having anal sex.

Terrence Says
August 25 2006, 1:48AM

After seeing the program, I can say with confidence some black people are still ignorant about HIV/AIDS. Some are so angry they insist on placing blame on everybody but themselves (light-skinned angry woman in Keith’s slide). Do black men need to stand up and take responsibility? Certainly, but black men - black, gay, or bisexual - are not the lone rangers in this epidemic impacting our community. Many black men – whether gay, straight or bisexual are being sexually responsible, but you never hear about that.

I agree with Butts though that some black people need to stop having sex with any person that has a pulse.

Ultimately, we have to value and love ourselves more because ain’t nothing worse than certain disingenuous mainstream media (read=white, ABC) coming forth like they care about black folk with pieces like that.

Mark
August 25 2006, 2:30AM

Until this conspiracy of silence stops, along with the deep shame and stigma of being gay or bisexual, there can be no blame or finger pointing.

SILENCE = DEATH

Darrell Diggins
August 25 2006, 3:22AM

Simply put, tonight's ABC broadcast was tired. As tired and poorly scripted as the BET AIDS special a few months ago. The same small categories (preacher, victimized heterosexual Black woman, play-it-safe AIDS activist or public official, softball journalist) of pundits talking, but saying very little. When will any of these talking heads ever speak courageously, authenticly, provocatively and honestly about the virulent homophobia in our churches and communities, governmental neglect, the complexity of sexual behavior and, yes, the legions of fearful, internalized-homophobic Black homosexuals who do almost nothing in the struggle for their/our own liberation? (Doing "Black Prides" as vacations don't count.)

When will we ACT the f**k up? Black heterosexuals and White homosexuals will not save us--much less any other group. All we have are ourselves. As Douglass once said, "Power concedes nothing without demand!" We need to do a "beatdown" on all of our oppressors--like we did with LifeBeat last month.

Stuffed Animal
August 25 2006, 9:00AM

Here are a few thoughts on last night's ABC News special "Out Of Control: AIDS in Black America":

-Why does TD Jakes hate Black Gay men?-Why weren't Black correspondents doing the hosting and interviewing? I got the impression that both Terry Moran and the late Peter Jennings had a steep learning curve when it came to the Black community.
-Why wasn't more time devoted to the subject? One hour was definitely not enough; the segments seemed rushed. They only scratched the surface of important topics like "down-low" behavior, sex in prison and attitudes about homosexuality in the churches.
-Is it really true that Black men have more multiple relationships than other men? I'm not convinced.
-Rev. Calvin Butts had a lot on the ball. He doesn't understand what motivates Black Gay and bisexual men to do some of the things they do, but his basic premise is correct: We all need to be conducting our sexual relationships more responsibly.

jcampbell41
August 25 2006, 10:52AM

I disagree with Boykin's assessment "we cannot continue to afford to demonize black men as sexual predators." Say what?! If a man -- as some of those men in one of those encounter groups admitted -- knows he has contracted HIV from sex with a man and then knowingly has unprotected sex with a woman THEN THAT MAN IS A PERSONIFICATION OF SOCIAL EVIL. There is no way to equivocate. While the idea of some people practicing celibacy may be unpractical or undesirable, clearly we are dealing with mindsets who cannot process and then take appropriate action to reflect the sexual climate we live in. It's not the 50s or even the 70s. We live in the age of AIDS -- and it ain't going away.

I did find it sad that so many black women were apparently desperate for a man that they would believe anything -- down to the fact that a man is not HIV infected or having sex on the side with other men -- that a man told them for the sake of a man in their lives.

jcampbell41
August 25 2006, 10:53AM

I disagree with Boykin's assessment "we cannot continue to afford to demonize black men as sexual predators." Say what?! If a man -- as some of those men in one of those encounter groups admitted -- knows he has contracted HIV from sex with a man and then knowingly has unprotected sex with a woman THEN THAT MAN IS A PERSONIFICATION OF SOCIAL EVIL. There is no way to equivocate. While the idea of some people practicing celibacy may be unpractical or undesirable, clearly we are dealing with mindsets who cannot process and then take appropriate action to reflect the sexual climate we live in. It's not the 50s or even the 70s. We live in the age of AIDS -- and it ain't going away.

I did find it sad that so many black women were apparently desperate for a man that they would believe anything -- down to the fact that a man is not HIV infected or having sex on the side with other men -- that a man told them for the sake of a man in their lives.

LP
August 25 2006, 11:05AM

I watched the program last night and my emotions ran from sad to angry to hopeful. The fact that our leaders (political & religious) could not directly make a commitment to speak out about their own prejudice and hate against same gender loving people made me sad.

I was happy to see Jessie and Jakes trying to BS their way around the question about why no national black leaders from the church were making AIDS in America a priority. Ted Koppel or Peter Jennings wouldn't let them off that easy. Where was Ms. Oprah? hmmmm

We must take control again and stand as the proud warriors we once were. Our filmmakers, entertainers, politicians but most importantly our family and friends have to start understanding that we want to be loved too, however, we must clearly demonstrate that we love ourselves first.

The hope is that enough black people saw the show and will be called to action on an individual level. Talk to the kids and young adults, speak to our friends and relatives, support our own HIV groups

jcampbell41
August 25 2006, 11:31AM

The broadcast did pinpoint a curious issue of how black American celebrities are flocking to Africa for AIDS relief. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but charity begins at home. Doing outreach work in poor black neighborhoods doesn't guarantee the photo ops or media soundbytes that a trip to exotic Africa promises. As for Oprah, she wouldn't touch (in any meaningful way) the topic of AIDS in the black community. For one thing, there's no redeeming "feel good" message to gain from dealing with HIV -- it's real life, grim and conflicting. Secondly, Oprah is almost a white woman -- a sexless white woman.

As for the black churches, I think these institutions that rely on "the Bible" as a guide for modern life are doing their parishoners a disservice. HIV doesn't care about religiosity. God may or may not provide, but there is also a saying that God helps those who help themselves.

Christy
August 25 2006, 11:43AM

Last night's show did little to offer a solution to the problem.

Shae
August 25 2006, 1:09PM

I helped conduct HIV research and outreach efforts for Black youth and adults for the last 4 years in Atlanta, GA. I've served communities across all socioeconomic status. I had two uncles who died, one of HIV, the other of AIDS. One was homosexual, the other was a drug addict. I've met teenagers and women my age who got HIV from their partners who were incarcerated or who had been sleeping around with other men. Those men said they were not gay or bisexual, they just liked to have sex with men and women. I've met people who were recovering addicts who found out they were HIV positive and don't know if they got it through having sex for drugs, or from injecting drugs.

HIV/AIDS is killing our community regardless of your sexual orientation or drug use. We're all BLACK, no one seems to care enough to say lets stop focusing on one or two sources of this virus, and lets start focusing on us as a people. Until we collectively decide that every life is worth saving HIV/AIDS will beat us.

Stuffed Animal
August 25 2006, 2:07PM

http://planetout.com/health/hiv/?sernum=3254&navpath=/topics/health/hiv/redribbon/

Check out this article on planetout.com called "How Unsafe Is Barebacking?" See how stupid some White Gay AIDS "educators" can be. Down-low Black men into anonymous house party sex obviously ain't the only ones out there who have a secret death wish.

Nathan James
August 25 2006, 2:20PM

If I may respectfully point something out, it's that few people in black America think about issues like AIDS because it's a taboo subject, like the "DL" and sexuality itself. The consequences of these attitudes can be both surprising and frightening. Case in point: my friend's younger sister, a bright, educated, successful black woman, became infected. She is among the very last people you'd imagine would be infected at all: monogamous, straight, very conservative. She contracted the virus in trying to get pregnant by her long-term boyfriend.

The reason I'm bringing her up, is that she clearly perceived herself to be in a "low-risk" category, but got sick anyway. If this can happen to her, with root causes far removed from morality or politics, imagine the abject failure of prevention in the black gay community. We won't discuss it, won't protest it, won't get together like we did during the fifties and sixties on civil rights...Keith is right...promiscuity doesn't cause AIDS, silence still does.

Marcos
August 25 2006, 4:30PM

The problem that I have with so many gay HIV prevention groups is that they do not seek to change the underlying bad behavior that often leads to people getting HIV. We know from the CDC and other experts that promiscous sex is risky behavior, with or without a condom. Risky not just for HIV, but a host of other diseases too. Yet, gay HIV prevention groups merely seek to tell people to use a condom, instead of sanely seeking to promote people to eschew promiscuity for relationships, or at the very least, be very selective about their partners. It is as if these groups concede gay men are out of control sex fiends who have no control over their sexual activities and can't develop healthier sexual behavior that doesn't involve promiscuity and a lack of selectivity in sexual partners.

Stuffed Animal
August 25 2006, 5:48PM

Let the church say "Amen!" I couldn't have put it any better, brother Marcos.

Raheem1252
August 25 2006, 7:26PM

I thought the program did a good job in focusing on the fact that the Black church and the Black leadership is NOT putting any effort into organizing support for this gigantic problem. TD Jakes looked like a FOOL. When asked why isnt the church leadership speaking out, Jakes response was that there is no blue print in the Bible regarding this issue. Please! Isn't there a blue print in the Bible about helping people...saving lives.

And Jesse Jackson was even more disppointing. He did the stereotypical "blame it on someone else" as he tried to say that Bush hasnt done anything to combat the problem. That may be true, but your job as a "supposed leader" in the Black community is to galvanize an effort to MAKE Bush so something.

Mel Smith
August 25 2006, 7:45PM

Thank you, Raheem. Jackson and T.D. Jakes(especially him!) did not look good. Jakes is about the dollar bill in my opinion. He talks about helping black people and he supports politics that does not really benefit our social and financial goals.

Prince Kusi
August 26 2006, 7:17AM

I was shocked to see that the so-called black leaders seemed so caught off guard discussing this subject, even with 25 years of prep time. Perhaps TD and friends will never be ready to talk about it, but WE can't afford to wait for them! For the life of me, I cannot understand how it is that gay black men and the black community generally didn't get the HIV-prevention memo. Not being a public-policy type, I look at this issue from a personal vantage point and see a very simple solution: good-ole-fashioned-doesn't-cost-you-anything MONOGAMY. In my opinion, recommending condom use should only be seen as a stopgap measure, not a final solution. People should be encouraged to have as much sex as they want (post HIV test, of course), but not with as many partners as they can find. The sexual revolution is over, you missed it, sorry. The black/gay leadership has failed, yes, but we now have the resources and information to save our own lives.

kathlene
August 26 2006, 8:59AM

One thing that separates us humans from animals is our level of reasoning. why we are so determined NOT to use it is a wonder. that whole comment about humans enjoyment of sex making promiscuity ok has to be dumbest statement ever made. Guess what, we like to eat, sleep, and drink too: it isn't acceptable to engage in those activities in excess to our detriment either. im no more willing to risk AIDS for a good lay than I am to risk liver failure for a six-pack. We need to check ourselves.

Jeff S.
August 26 2006, 10:33AM

The main question remains, "Why do so many straight and gay black men have unprotected sex? And, why do so many straight black women practice unsafe sex?" I stole these questions from RodOnline's website. I don't think anybody has addressed them. It is clear to me that the responsibility is shared by all.

CHRIS
August 26 2006, 2:48PM

I LOVE YOUR SITE TO DEAF,BUT ON THIS TOPIC I DISSAGREE WITH YOU KEITH.PROMISCUIRITY DOES INCREASE YOU CHANCES OF GETTING HIV AND OTHER STDS.CONDOMS ARE NOT 100%.MANY OF OUR GAY BLACK MEN KNOW THERE POSITIVE AND STILL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE UNSAFE SEX.WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THESE SEX PARTIES WHEN GAY BLACK PRIDE COMES AROUND.IT SEEMS LIKE AS A COMMUNITY WE LACK MORALS.THERE ARE MANY DL MEN OUT THERE WHO CARRY ON TO THERE WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS THAT THEY ARE STRIAGHT.WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY`RE NOT.I WATCHED THE PROGRAM AND FOUND IT TO BE VERY TRUE.WE AS BLACK PEOPLE DONT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE DO.MIX THAT WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT DOESNT REALLY CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.YOU COME UP WITH ALL THE ISSUES THAT PLAGUE THE BLACK COMMUNITY.AIDS HAS BECOME A BLACK DISEASE LIKE DIABETES,CANCER,HYPERTENION,HEARTDISEASE AND THE LIST GOES ON.

Mark J
August 26 2006, 3:38PM

Keith, you are usually on point. But your comments about promiscuity are offbase, man. Statistically, promiscuity is a HUGE factor in whether one contrasts any STD. Just because we can point to a person out there who sleeps around indiscriminately doesn't void the statistically correct conclusion that promiscuity is very risky behavior.
You call the Rev's comments "sex negative." I call it a guideline on how to "stay negative." Do you call people who warn people not to speed and drive drunk "driving negative?" As with everything, sex can be a great thing if done with moderation, sobriety, and selectively. Equating "sex" with promiscuity is like equating "driving drunk" with driving.

jcampbell41
August 26 2006, 4:04PM

JeffS: you posed the question, "Why do women engage in unsafe sex?"

HELLO!? Remember 10th grade biology? For a woman to conceive a child, her egg has to be fertilized by the male's sperm. Pregnancy, procreation, is the reason why a woman has to take a leap of faith in the responsibility of her male partner. Not to mention compromising the health of the unborn child. Not all sex between men and women is recreational.

Now between men, the sex is purely recreational. This makes it all the more glaring when men, with everything to gain by practicing safer sex habits, do not.

Could be the original question hasn't been addressed until now because it it so short-sighted and based on a gross inequality.

cmoney
August 26 2006, 4:31PM

How about some one inventing a condom that doesn't feel like a bicycle inner tube? If you want to increase the frequency of safe sex, there's a good place to start. Most guys who don't use condoms hate them because they interfere with the pleasure of sex. Some condoms are so bad that you might as well be putting your dick in a garden hose. Women who bitch about men not wanting to wear condoms don't understand that they are asking the men to give up a significant part of the sexual experience (and how could they know?). Everybody knows about condoms and has access to them, so let's do something about why many MEN don't like to use them.

Marcos
August 26 2006, 4:45PM

How about taking simple steps like denouncing sex parties as health hazards? How about planning seminars and worships at Black Prides that actually encourage monogamous, stable relationships? How about starting networks of relationship support groups? How about more blog and media publicity of longterm couples?

Stuffed Animal
August 26 2006, 4:45PM

The following lines of dialogue are taken from an episode of the CBS TV series "Touched By An Angel." The episode was called "The Violin Lesson," and it dealt with a terminally-ill Gay man with AIDS being rejected by his father. Della Reese's character, Tess, is speaking with the Gay son:

"Tell God I'm sorry for turning out the way I did. I know I'm a disappointment."

"No, you're not. In God's eyes, you are His beautiful child! I am an angel. I was sent by God to bring you a message: God loves you!"

"That's not what I've heard."

"What you've heard were the words of someone else . . . words of hate and confusion. But God is not the author of confusion. God is the source and the completer of your faith! And that's what you need right now, faith that God really knows who you are . . . "

I send these lines out to all Gay men whose shame causes them to try to kill themselves and each other.

Rahee1252
August 26 2006, 5:52PM

Jakes has a congregation of 30,000 people every Sunday in Dallas alone. This does not include all the people he reaches on TV, through his videos and books, and through his “high paying” speaking engagements. Yet, he refuses to seriously address the issue.

For those of you who do NOT live in Texas, google recent news reports on Bishop Terry Hornbuckle. This trial just ended. Hornbuckle is a Dallas area preacher who patterned himself after Jakes. He was just convicted of raping 3 women. He is a known meth addict. Jakes and former Dallas cowboy Deion Sanders knew about one of the rapes, and did nothing. As a matter of fact, they told the victims mom not to go to the police, they would get Hornbuckle help. Jakes is a HUGE phoney in my eyes.

He cant come out and speak on on the of the BIGGEST issue facing Black Americans since slavery (AIDs), but he can certainly come out and kiss Bush's ass up, side and downways!!!

DeeJay
August 26 2006, 9:26PM

I agree that the underlying problem driving the rate of HIV and AIDS transmission is a mental health crisis of undiagnosed depression and low-self esteem. It's a problem for men and women, gay and straight.

The raw sex parties, crusing, and creeping with multiple partners in the era of the AIDS pandemic are symptoms of suggests, imho, the absence of a incentive to protect one's health and well-being. Frankly, there's not much difference between this madness and the decision by a suicide bomber to detonate him/herself in public square at midday. The latter's approach is not a violent, but the result is still DEATH and DESTRUCTION.

I agree that the answers to this crisie lie in helping people find coping mechanisms other than raw sex and creeping to fill their deep emotional voids.

Glenn
August 27 2006, 3:07PM

I am writing because I just saw your interview on Tony Brown's Journal. I appreciated your comments regarding black female focus on the DL. I agree that females are too focused on the DL. But I disagree with the comment about black females being a small percent of AIDS/HIV cases. Young black females are the fastest growing segment of new AIDS/HIV cases. So we/they should maintain focus and concern on this killer in the black community. I sit on the Board of Directors of the oldest and largest AIDS/HIV charitable organization in Michigan. We provide services to those infected and affected by AIDS/HIV. I am willing and able to do whatever is required to carry the message in our community. Happy Birthday! You are very good for the community.

Jerome
August 28 2006, 1:58PM

The AIDS epedemic has reached an alarming level within our community, that is a fact. Our future as a race is at stake both locally and also on a world-wide level (the high rates of AIDS in Africa and in the caribbean). Us gay men will not procreate. Unless we quarantine those infected (as Cuba has done so successfully) then we will face a crisis like never before. Those who are infected should be separated from those who are not infected so that they can get the best medical care possible. I remembered the rotted flesh of those infected back in the 80's. Now with improved medicine, those who are infected look like me and you. There are more strains than ever before and we must halt this high infection rate since education is not working.

kev
August 28 2006, 7:09PM

Wow, so many opinions, what about effort? How many people on here are doing ANYTHING THEMSELVES in thier OWN communities and what kind of logic is it to wait for the Black church, Oprah Winfrey, ABC News, BET, undersexed/manless bitter Black church women, homophobic preachers etc to "get it!" Black gay men are some of the most enterprising, creative and intellegent beings on this earth yet we too tend to take on the "typical" black American male and female approach of 'wait and see, then moan and groan.' Instead of all this logic, opinion, frustration and summary, is it possible to write a letter to the editor of Essence or to BET or even to MTV about your concerns? Then ask if YOU can narrate and/or produce a segment! You never know what may happen there but you do know what will happen as long we remain silent right? NOTHING! ABC News made an EFFORT! www.atlantanoblemag.com

DeeJay
August 30 2006, 3:50PM

^ Interesting. Exactly why is it that a person who does not celebrate some of the consequences of cruising, sex parties, and raw creeping with multiple partners has to be manless, bitter and undersexed?

bede
August 31 2006, 2:55AM

If you kill off all of y(our) women, you won't have ANY Blacks; straight, gay or otherwise. I think we need to deal whit that.

Sherita Hall
August 31 2006, 8:12AM

Once again, Keith, you hit this one out of the park. Most of "our" leaders are about the dollar bill and 15 minutes of fame. You also have bitter sisters who think that every black gay man is lower than dirt, and folks like that goof J.L. King glamourizing the "down low" and wanting someone to pity them. Boo-the-effin'hoo!

The "church folk" have always been closed minded when it comes to issues of sex, race, class, domestic violence, drug abuse, and the most infamous answer is "trust in God" and contribute to the pastor's "love offering". Church folk, get your head out of your holy asses and realize that this is a problem that affects EVERYONE in the black community(whether you're gay or straight).

We cannot rely on the government(look how they treated the folks devastated by Katrina!)nor our "leaders" to address HIV and AIDS. We have to do it for ourselves. Education is key, not misinformation and hate. We cannot look at BET,MTV, ABC, or anyone else and expect them to do anything.

DeeJay
August 31 2006, 9:44AM

I can't agree more that HIV and AIDS is an OUR problem. We do not have the luxury - or resources for that matter -to sit back and point our fingers at who among us is more responsible than others for spreading this disease.

Each one of us plays a role, whether it's through our reckless gay or straigh sexual conduct; by not instilling in our children the notion that their "worth" is about more than sexiness or the ability to attract sex partners; and, by not seeking counseling or psychiatric help for depression,low self esteem, or the OCDs that fuel reckless all sexual behavior.

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH UNRESOLVED EMOTIONAL ISSUES, AND OVER THE AGE OF 21, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEEK HELP TO ADDRESS THEM .

Antonette
September 3 2006, 11:50AM

The paternalistic, self-righteous host feigned to be acting in the best interest of black people. But when a black woman attributed much of the recent AIDS epidemic to slavery, he dismissed it saying (on behalf of white people) that slavery was a long time ago. In a civilization that arguably dates back millions of years, 500 years is not that long a time to recover. Chattel slavery used African men and women to breed and that internalized oppression affects sexual practices today. Also, lack of access to healthcare and demoralization has its roots in slavery and is perpetuated today via white supremacy.

Moreover, the special pitted church leaders against one another; had the audacity to feature Jesse Jackson and ask him his opinion, then attack him for his past; separated groups of black men and black women in which the black women blamed the men and the men blamed the African (American) community. It seemed that the special was aimed at bringing about discord, rather than offering any solutions

Xavier Pickett of RBA
September 4 2006, 2:09AM

I would argue that Black churches have lost their prophetic voices because it has been replaced by a Black apathy topped off with an American dream of anti-community, privatization and consumerism. What makes matters worse is that many of our Black churches are probably unaware of this growing crisis. Perhaps, they are too busy with taking up multiple offerings, buying the pastor a new car or even jet, and building a several million-dollar edifice that can host a Super Bowl crowd. What is also really ironic is that with all the health-wealth-prosperity messages, Black communities are not any healthier (e.g. the rapid AIDS growth)....

To read the rest, click here, which is located at Reformed Blacks Of America

Jermaine
October 5 2006, 5:30PM

It is my hope that everyone would weed out the useful information through the propaganda we find in much of the media output today. I am not sure how I feel about the ABC program yet, however it did make me quite mad at myself for not doing more. How can we sit and complain about how the media portrays us when we are not stepping up and saying otherwise? That program made me write a blog to try to educate all who reads it. I just hope that it did some good and prevented another needless infection.

ro118ck
July 5 2007, 7:42PM

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