There are no words that can express my joy and gratitude for the gathering we had at JoJo’s restaurant in D.C. this past Sunday, Oct. 4th. Produced by Colette Williams of Ol Soul Project, a resident of the D.C. area, a fellow SU alum and Delta as well as an incredible singer.
Colie Williams, singer and benefit organizer
She organized a wonderful night of entertainment with local spoken word artists and performers. She even blessed us with two songs, one an original composition of hers that blew everyone away. Our host Kimberly Collins, an acclaimed writer in her own right, helped keep the evening moving along smoothly.
Kimberly Collins, Hostess
The spoken word artists that she introduced were Hari Jones, Khadijah Moon Ali-Coleman, Love the poet and Black Root.
Hari Jones, poet
Khadijah Moon Ali-Coleman, poet
Love the poet
The poets that graced the mic were incredible and I want to thank them all for sharing their talent and time. Each artist dropped jewels of knowledge on subjects as varied as losing a family member to AIDS, love and urban youth, captivating the audience with each word they spoke.
Black Root, poet
We were also fortunate enough to have art donated to us by Sharon J. Burton, an amazing self-taught artist. The two pieces she brought were beautiful as well as moving and thoughtful. We were pleased and grateful to have her assist in our fundraising efforts.
Sharon Butler, artist with two raffle winners
The evening ended with a screening of the trailer for the documentary, which is available as a short documentary in the education market, at Third World Newsreel. The film was well received and we had a lively discussion about AIDS in the Black community. We even met a gentlemen from the Army, who just happened to come into the club, and it was revealed that he was apart of the team that is developing the AIDS vaccine in Thailand. When he stood up and asked to speak, many had no idea where this was going. A friend of mine thought he was going to go Kanye West on us. “Yo, no disrespect! This event is great and all but the one last night was the greatest of all time.” As you can see, it was a wonderful night which was made even more special by our host JoJo’s restaurant, which is also where Colette, also know as Colie, performers every Wednesday night. So, if you are in D.C. and looking for a great place to eat, listen to some good music and just chill, then JoJo’s your place.
JoJo's restaurant in DC
This was a great night and we hope to have more events like this in the near future. If you are interested in hosting a screening or organizing a fundraising event, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us through our contact us page.
Until then, for your viewing pleasure, we’ve added some photos of the evening so you can get a sense of the spirit of the night!
Syracuse Univ Alum at the screening
Cyrille Phipps, filmmaker
The evening's performers and host
Ol’ Soul
Presents
A Benefit Screening of
Seen, But Not Heard
with Special Guest Performers,
“DC’s Finest Artists”
Sunday, Oct. 6th, 2009, 6pm
JoJo’s Restaurant
1518 U Street,
Washington D.C.
$12 at the door
Tony Wafford has taught his three daughters that when they go on a date, they need to be prepared: They carry a credit card, cash for a cab, a cell phone and a condom.
On the PBS program, World Focus, reporter Lisa Biagiotti, looks at homophobia in Jamaica tonight, in the two part series, “There are no gay parades in Jamaica.” The issue of homophobia in this West Indian Island has been a hotly debated topic since the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) criticized and boycotted events of Reggae/Dance Hall performers Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton in the early 90’s. This issue received further attention with the widely released report, Hated to Death: Homophobia, Violence, and Jamaica’s HIV/AIDS Epidemic by Rebecca Schleifer of the Human Rights Watch.
It is widely believed that the hatred and violence against gay men, in particular, has played a role in the increase of HIV. Some men who are gay in Jamaica, tend not to seek HIV/AIDS education, therefore don’t practice safe sex with their partner(s), much less seek treatment if infected with the virus. This level of stigma, encourages men who have sex with other men, to seek shelter through a heterosexual relationship. And more than likely not use condoms with either partner.
In the United States, it is also believed that homophobia, stigma and isolation has also helped fueled AIDS in the Black Community. Although, the level of violence is not the same as in Jamaica, the issues of shame, fear and stigma are very similar.
If homophobia does play a role in the rise of infection rates, how do we as a community fight against the stigma and fear that fuels the shame? How do we talk to each other about sex and sexuality? And how do we learn to negotiate safe sex, even with a long term partner (boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/lover)???
Much to think about, much to discuss!
Please share your thoughts and comments. Let’s talk amongst ourselves!!!
In an article from empower her, a women’s health online site, the dialogue continues about women and their sexual health. The same way you look after your partner/husband/wife, the same way you take care of your children and your parents, is the same way, we as women must take care of all aspects of our health.
“Women should have their partners tested for HIV/AIDS before sleeping with them and should avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids from other people.“
Join the discussion and add your two cents. Let’s take a stand on safe sex and HIV awareness!
“AIDS in America today is a black disease,” says Phill Wilson, founder and CEO of the The Black AIDS Institute (BAI) and himself HIV-positive for 20 years.” This statement came after BAI released the report, “Left Behind! Black America: A Neglected Priority in the Global AIDS Epidemic”. During the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico, he also stated in a press conference, “The U.S. is failing its people and that is a direct attack on Black America.” “This failure to respond is particularly acute in the epidemic in Black America.”
Is it true AIDS is a Black disease? If so, why isn’t there a national call to action among all the AIDS organizations that serve people of color and the African American community? Why has the Black community fail to respond with the same passion and anger the gay community demonstrated over twenty years ago?
Does stating AIDS as a Black disease increase the stigma, fear and ignorance around this epidemic? Does this labeling do more to hurt our efforts to end AIDS in the Black community? In a posting responding to CNN’s Black in America program last summer, the author writes, “I admire what they are attempting to accomplish, but labeling AIDS as a “Black disease” is WRONG and short-sighted. Your temporary headlines on CNN and a possible up tick in funding are nothing compared to the damage that will likely follow if people are able to write off AIDS as a problem for “that other group of people” I thought we already fought this battle. Anybody can contract this disease.”
Where do we go from here? Both arguments are right and both are wrong. One thing that we can agree is that the infection rates as well as the death rates are extremely high in the Black community, especially among Black women and Black MSM (men who have sex with men). The statistics certainly don’t lie despite what some naysayers want to believe. AIDS, as well as many others diseases are having a devastating effect among African Americans. How these diseases affect our community has as much to do with health as the psychological, social, economical and political climate we live in. We need to examine the role we have as mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and partners, how that role plays out in our relationships and in our sexual practices.
I don’t claim to have the answers but I certainly want to extend the dialogue about AIDS in our community. I want to see individuals, AIDS organizations (local and national), community based non-profits as well as funders come together to address this issue. I want us as a community to start caring for each other the way we are suppose to. I want that caring to show up in the way we take a friend to get an HIV test, the way we practice safe sex and the way we talk to a love one if we know they are involved in reckless behavior. Be proactive!
Remember, the life you save might not only be someone you love, it might be yours!
Listen to Phill Wilson from the Black AIDS Institute talk about AIDS in Black America and visit the Black AIDS Institute website. They have some great articles about HIV/AIDS in the Black community and how we should address it.
http://www.blackaids.org/
There is no doubt that HIV/AIDS is having a great impact on communities of color, especially in the African American community. We can no longer afford to think its not me, that no one in my family has AIDS and that I don’t need to worry about that. The stats tell a different story but it doesn’t matter because the stats no longer scare us and no longer push us into action. So, what will!
Its simple. An HIV test can not only save your life but can save the life of your partner, husband or wife. Hopefully, this will start you on a journey of safe sex practices. And it doesn’t matter if you are married or single. It just matters that we are protecting each other the best way we know how.
Check out this article by Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Feel free to post your comments and share your thoughts!
“African Americans, in particular, are more likely to be killed or to die of HIV than others are”
BY DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX
This is a MUST read! We must ban together and fight for Health Care Reform Now!!! Our communities are most affected and we remain silent!
Please read this article.
http://www.juliannemalveaux.com/downloads/black-folk-must-advocate.pdf
In the United States, every 9 ½ minutes, someone is infected with HIV. Recently released data supports 1 out of 16 Black men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime.
It’s time to ACT.
From the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene:
June 24, 2009
Health Department Announces 28% Increase in HIV Testing Since Launch of “The Bronx Knows” Initiative One Year Ago
HIV testing initiative is more than half way to meeting its three-year goal of helping 250,000 Bronx residents learn their status
On June 24, the Health Department and community partners will gather at the New York Botanical Garden to celebrate the anniversary of “The Bronx Knows,” a boroughwide HIV testing initiative launched one year ago. Participating clinics, hospitals and community organizations have improved HIV testing by approximately 28% since the initiative began, and have provided voluntary tests to nearly 160,000 Bronx residents in the past year, including many of the 250,000 who have never been tested before. The event honors the agencies and community partners that have worked together to reach this benchmark
www.nyc.gov/bronxhivtesting
http://www.nyc.gov/condoms
