The University observed the seventh National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) on Wednesday, with constructive dialogue but a less-than-desired participation turnout. Included in the on-campus events was the University’s first annual Candlelight Vigil, to commemorate victims of the pandemic.
“What I thought the meeting really put forth is this understanding that there are many factors playing at hand when we investigate the HIV/AIDS epidemic within black communities nationwide,” said student organizer Jane Charles-Voltaire ’07. “Moreover, we understand that because of the horrific legacy of hatred and oppression of black people, there has been enrooted in black culture an inherent desire to preserve some semblance of dignity, and that this need to constantly be essentially ‘saving face’ does not allow us to properly address this issue as well as many others that are destroying black communities.”
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Mu Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and student group Ujamaa collaborated to sponsor the program. Charles-Voltaire, along with fellow organizers Portia Hemphill ’07 and Doug Rubenstein ’07, led an open community discussion at Malcolm X house.
The discussion began with statistics about HIV/AIDS in the black community.
“In 2004, African Americans only made up 13 percent of the total population of the United States, [yet] African Americans accounted for 40 percent of all HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the country,” Hemphill said.
Among other statistics, the 20 discussion participants brought up a 2005 figure stating that 70 percent of infected women contracted the virus through heterosexual contact, and 48 percent of the infected population, both black and white, is under the age of 25.
“The reality of the situation is that we are living in a generation of people who are dying,” said one discussion member.
According to the NBHAAD website, a strong correlation exists between low income and the likelihood of contracting HIV.
In response to one figure stating that 75 percent of blacks who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were male, discussion participants explored the notion that more females are tested for STDs than are males.
The group also discussed the view of Wesleyan and other universities as bubbles, or that events outside of the school have little effect on campus. In response, however, a participant said that one of her relatives contracted HIV at college.
The discussion concluded on the note that education is key to awareness efforts—not only on college campuses, but also in public schools. One participant brought up that in Puerto Rico, kindergarten students are being taught how to put condoms on bananas and, as a result, the population’s STD rates have decreased.
The Candlelight Vigil followed, during which the group walked from Malcolm X house to Davenport Campus Center, then to Olin Library for closing thoughts.
Despite satisfaction with the day’s events, Charles-Voltaire, Hemphill, and Rubenstein each expressed the importance of greater participation.
“I felt that despite the number of representatives from Wesleyan being smaller, it was a positive point of departure for both the Wesleyan students as well as the students coming from various schools throughout Connecticut,” Charles-Voltaire said.
“I thought the event went really well,” Hemphill echoed. “I would have liked more people to come out, especially more men. I thought the vigil went really well. We hope to make it better next year. The conversations brought up issues that should be followed up.”
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