By now most of you have seen or heard about what I'm referring to as the "New Black Plague." It's given name is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The negative impact is astonishing! Depending on which set of numbers you read, Black or African Americans (formerly Negro) men and women make up a substantial and disproportionate percentage of all Americans infected with HIV -- perhaps as much as 50%. How can this be true for a minority group that is decreasing in its demographic share of the American landscape. At worse the percentage should be near the AA percentage of the overall population, i.e. 10-12%.
I think that much of the explanation is due to the breakdown of the family unit. When I was growing up in the Jim Crow and racist society of the Deep South in the 50's and 60's, Negroes had at best a difficult time. Segregated everything. Couldn't vote, couldn't come into the front door of many places, couldn't get a white collar job in a major corporation and you better not "talk back" to certain people.
Yet, in spite of these difficulties "out in the world," there was always the family and church to give you encouragement, hope, help and also to "train you up in the way you should go." I think that that type of support system is still there but greatly weakened.
If that system were as strong today as it was a half century ago, I think that our great country would not be facing this New Black Plague - HIV. Let me acknowledge that I'm not living on a deserted island. I recognize that AA and Blacks also are impacted by societal factors. But what American isn't adversely affected at some time by preferences, favoritism and even injustice and, yes, discrimation? This may sound like Republican-speak. But I plan to pull the lever in November for Obama.
Click on the "Comments" link below and let us hear what you think?
I think that much of the explanation is due to the breakdown of the family unit. When I was growing up in the Jim Crow and racist society of the Deep South in the 50's and 60's, Negroes had at best a difficult time. Segregated everything. Couldn't vote, couldn't come into the front door of many places, couldn't get a white collar job in a major corporation and you better not "talk back" to certain people.
Yet, in spite of these difficulties "out in the world," there was always the family and church to give you encouragement, hope, help and also to "train you up in the way you should go." I think that that type of support system is still there but greatly weakened.
If that system were as strong today as it was a half century ago, I think that our great country would not be facing this New Black Plague - HIV. Let me acknowledge that I'm not living on a deserted island. I recognize that AA and Blacks also are impacted by societal factors. But what American isn't adversely affected at some time by preferences, favoritism and even injustice and, yes, discrimation? This may sound like Republican-speak. But I plan to pull the lever in November for Obama.
Click on the "Comments" link below and let us hear what you think?
1 comment:
I totally agree. I just wish I could pinpoint what to do to reverse this destruction. I'm currently working with innercity kids this summer. And I see the warping of morality and self image at age 10. Have we as parents and grandparents failed to pass on the morals that were once prevalent in our communities four decades ago? It seems the breakdown happened 30 years ago. It reminds me of the Jews being delivered from Pharoah and then getting stuck in the wilderness for almost half a century due to the erosion of faith and obedience. Black people are in the thick of the wilderness.
Thanks for writing such a thought-provoking blog.
Edye
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