Are you Black? Are you Female?

More than likely if you are reading this blog you are..........and if you are not, there is no discrimination allowed over here so feel free to read on! The reason for the eye popping title is that if you are indeed black and female, you need to pay attention to HIV. HIV is the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-34. In parts of Africa, it is the leading cause of death and as an African, the prevention and treatment of HIV is a cause that is close to my heart.



Leila at BGLH has a wonderful way of blending serious topics with fashion. A few months back she featured The Red Pump Project. With her permission, I am reposting it here!




Let’s begin with the stats.





1. Black teens aged 13–19 represent only 16 percent of all teenagers in the United States but are 69% of new AIDS cases among teens.




2. Almost 70 percent of all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women in the United States are black women.



3. AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women aged 25–34 and the third leading cause of death for black women aged 35-44.




Last night I attended the Red Pump Project’s “Rock the Red” Fashion Show at The Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake St.) in Chicago. The event serves to raise awareness of AIDS among black women while celebrating fashion.



The clothes were beautiful, and the people were lovely. But I was
haunted by the statistics I heard. My mind raced to the people I know —
people close to me — who don’t make it a habit to practice safe sex. And
for a moment in the crowded lounge, I panicked.




Rae Lewis Thornton, an activist and minister living with AIDS, was
presented with an award. The room fell silent as she told about how, as a
successful professional in her 20s, she first discovered she was
infected with AIDS. Her boyfriend’s first words after hearing: “You
bitch.”



Read the rest of the article (and peep the lovely hair on show!) -  http://bglhonline.com/2010/03/the-red-pump-project/