This has become even more evident within the African-American community. As a gay, black man living with the virus, I have had the “privilege” to witness this, as well as the opportunity to become a part of it.

As an AIDS educator and activist, I have observed our community’s transition from a state of denial to a position of activism. But it has not come without a price. And it was not a smooth evolution. We barely dodged the bullet. Allow me to refresh your memory.

In the early 1980s, the black community viewed AIDS as a white gay man’s disease. They “knew” what a victim looked like and “knew” how to avoid contracting it. As a result, they turned a blind eye to the whole thing. "It's not our problem," was the response.

And then it happened. They began to recognize an increase in the number of AIDS cases within the community. Most were men between the ages of 35 and 50. Most were gay or bisexual. And most had full-blown AIDS by the time they were diagnosed.

Still, they chose to ignore the signs and rarely spoke about it. Many infected individuals declined to inform their families for fear of being labeled or ostracized.

The families of people who succumbed to this disease often explained their deaths as cancer-related. The religious community refused offers for education and outreach. They refused to read the signs.

By the mid-1990s, the epidemic took a new turn. Women, teens and children began testing positive for the virus at an alarming rate. This was when they sat up and took notice. They realized that they were vulnerable. This was no longer a white gay disease, but an "anybody’s" disease. It was a wake-up call.

They began to welcome education, testing and treatment within the community. But the damage was already done. By the year 2004, African Americans constituted over half of the reported cases, though they only made up 13% of the American population.

The Black community has come a long way since those days. There have been initiatives to make sure that the community is educated. Many have become involved in outreach, testing, and treatment.

We have become more compassionate towards those living with this disease. Church leaders have taken up the mantle. And, each year, Blacks are becoming more visible at the annual AIDS Walk.

Yes, we have come a long way. But we’ve only just begun. This is a war and soldiers are needed in the trenches. We now have a weapon called knowledge, yet we lack the soldiers. So as we approach this year’s AIDS Walk, consider this:

Wars are won one battle at a time. We all have the ability to become teachers and activists. Take the time to get involved. Come join us in the trenches. You could make a difference.

Tell us what you think. Write Spectrum at editor@mcckc.edu.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College