It's Real

 Six years ago today, a good friend of mine died from complications from AIDS. He didn't find out that he had it until a month before his death. He didn't bother to go get checked, never thought he'd get it, even though he often participated in risky behavior. Let this serve as a wake up call to everyone out there. I want to take this space to ask you all to please, take care of your health. Get tested. Know your truth. You don't have to "look sick" to have it. You don't have to necessarily feel any different than normal. But that doesn't mean that it's any less real. HIV/AIDS is having a devastating effect on our communities and our lives. The CDC estimates that 240,000 – 350,000 African Americans—about 1 in 50 African American men and 1 in 160 African American women—are infected with HIV. It's that serious. In areas such as South Florida, the numbers are even higher. Miami ranks number 1 in the United States in AIDS case rates, followed by New Orleans. We know the precautions to take in order to prevent infection, but we don't always follow them. The stigma attached to being HIV positive is also a heavy burden to wear, but it's not a burden you have to bear alone. Take time out to encourage your friends and family to get tested. Volunteer to go with them. It's scary, no doubt. But this is one instance where ignorance isn't bliss. In this case, knowing is better than not knowing. So get tested. Save a life... it may be your own.
http://www.stopthespread.com/