In Aida Benton’s book HIV Exceptionalism she gives a story two different individuals who have decided to take different positions in regards to their HIV status, and how this can impact their lives. For example, Alfred was very vocal about the fact that he was positive with HIV, and that he was doing the best he could to live in an optimistic manner. He also mentioned that he could not understand why someone would not want to be open about their struggles with HIV. Nafiatsu, on the other hand, does not want to expose her status with HIV. This is despite immense pressure that she has felt in her community to come out with her status, and she is even denied a job at her organization, because she is not open.…
Having HIV is no longer a death sentence now that someone can live a normal life. With recent medications and treatment options, this disease is considered manageable just like any other chronic disease. When HIV was first diagnosed in the world, it was considered a death sentence and the stigma attached brought about social isolation to almost all patients with the diagnosis, today, it is regarded as one of those chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. If I were diagnosed with HIV, my immediate reaction would be shock, surprise, sadness, fear, concern over my future, depression, shame, and isolation. Despite all the shock, if there is someone that would tell me I can still leave a normal life and teaches me how to achieve it, I would go for it quickly in other to be there long enough for my family.…
Identifying with a certain race brings people to a place they can usually belong to; the people around them have the same general values and thoughts. The narrator in ‘The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man’ by James Weldon Johnson belongs to two races. His skin color is that of a white man but his facial features are that of a black man. The narrator grows up with limited views about the African American social views. This leads the narrator to believe he can better the social views of the black man.…
Alonso Estrada HIST 1302 New York Times The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, written by James Weldon Johnson, is a story based around the life of an African American who was blessed with light colored skin. The man was seen by many individuals, and could go around, as if he were a white, normal American man. Because of this the man was treated much better than his brethren with a darker complexion, as he went unnoticed and unbothered by superficial racist people across the country.…
There are many concepts discussed within Dr. Maulana Karenga’s book Introduction to Black Studies, but I will be thoroughly discussing Black Studies as a discipline, Black Liberation Theology, Black Womanist Theology, Religious Thrusts, the wealth and income and its influence on political empowerment, the reversal of ghettoization problem, economic and political empowerment of African Americans, Black on Black crime, Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, and Psychopathic Personality (2010). Fundamentally, I will discuss the challenges Black Studies creates for the traditional American education. Black Studies challenges the traditional education in every way. It challenges the fact that all knowledge is based on one particular race—White.…
This piece is a good addition to the the collection of writings that it is a part of because it provides a narrative on a topic and point of view that so far has not been featured as much in the anthology. This excerpt from a novel, An Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, is the documentation of a man, who is able to pass as a white man, traveling throughout the South. The main theme of the piece is the experience that the speaker has during his time in the south, from attending the “big meeting” to witnessing a lynching. Both of those events tie into his continued debate over which race he should identify with. The author uses the narrative structure and a straightforward tone as well as contrasting events to show how the speaker is working…
Marcela broke off her relationship having contracted HIV from this relationship. Her former partner told her to get tested since he had an affair while they were together. Marcela is acting erratic lately. She had two traffic tickets for driving at very high speeds on the interstate, she is staying out late, and drinking more than usual. Marcela has gotten in a few fights with her co-workers and have been working long hours.…
Disclosing one's HIV status is still widely perceived as socially dangerous. Similarly, other great risk people living with HIV face are the improper disclosure of their status, which can result in denial of employment, violence, and many other collateral consequences. Furthermore, could you imagine being sick? So deadly sick, going to the doctor to…
In Louisiana, it is a criminal act (felony) punishable by state law, to intentionally expose another individual to HIV/AIDS through sexual contact or other means (such as biting and spitting) without the knowledge and lawful consent of the other person. Despite such a tough legal stand on the issue of HIV-exposure, the state has no statute requiring sexual contacts of an HIV positive individual to be notified. (LA. ADMIN. CODE TIT.…
In the society we live in people face discrimination all the time. People are discriminated for a number of different reasons: such as being a different race, being a different color, having a low economic status and being part of a different religion. People are constantly discriminated and misjudged because we don’t look or belief in the same things. No one likes to be discriminated or judged because of our characteristics or beliefs. People will try passing as being part of a different race or religion to try to avoid being discriminated or judged.…
Racial Autobiography Introduction In my life, I wish that I could have known more about my father’s heritage. My father is still alive, but I do not talk to him. Knowing whom my father is, not only by his name, but the by type of person he is along with how he thinks, knowing this would help me understand who I am. Along with knowing whom my father is as a person and where her comes from, I would love to know how an employer looks at me as a student at Bethel University in comparison to a student with the same degree from a State school.…
I have felt many pressures, race is such a big problem among black people but as community can get over the hump of being pressured into a few stereotypes. From my own personal experience being a young black man growing up in many places of black being the majority such as Detroit, Chicago, New York I felt an amazing amount of comfort around these areas. Once I move down to La Vernia Texas, being enrolled into an all white school with a lot of Mexicans and the only black people could only fit on a bench in a hallway that we called “The Black Bench” in high school, I attended La Vernia school district for 7 years from 4th grade all the way to 10th grade in high school. My first encounter with this whole move, and experience this new…
In fact, these differences in upbringing may account for the characters’ unique perception of the disease. There is no specific type of person who contracts AIDS, and not all AIDS victims are reckless and unthinking. While certainly some patients, such as Mimi, may be immature and irresponsible during coping, others, such as Angel or Collins, are victims of circumstance. With wisdom and maturity, they understand and respect the immensity of the disease and make effort to better themselves and educate others. Larson uses this diversity to counter the belief that AIDS is a “gay disease” or only affects a…
We have been fighting to find a cure for HIV for a long time. HIV is a retrovirus that attacks cells of the immune system. Leading to a loss of immune function and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome also know as (AIDS). The reason we are coming to you is because we need your help to better lives and the future. We want you to donate money to this to make history and saves lives, but before you make your decision lets get a clear understanding of what HIV really is.…
"If you knew I was HIV positive would you still treat me as an equal, would you still be my friend, would you still touch me, would you still love me?” These are some of the thoughts that go through the minds of the millions of people worldwide who are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Despite the mass impact of the disease, many still remain ignorant to its definition, history, and effects, leading to the negative associations of those affected. I’m here to give you a brief enlightenment of HIV/AIDS in an effort to to lessen the misconceptions and stigma of HIV/ AIDS. First, we need to understand the basics.…