The Queen's Chair: December 1 is World AIDS Day

Tomorrow is World AIDS Day and I don't know how many people are aware of this. AIDS/HIV once thought to be a gay disease is now devastating the African-American community. The fastest growing segment now getting this disease is African-American women. I bring this up because too many of these women are heads of households. So children are losing their mothers. Mothers are losing their daughters.

In my community, I will be reading a new piece of fiction that I created for the event called "The Invitation." My piece centers on this growing population and how you can't tell who does or doesn't have the disease. It also tackles how you can stay healthy and protect yourself.

I'm tired of the black church's response to this life-threatening health epidemic. If the church isn't blaming the victim then it ignores what's going on within its own community. I miss the black church of the past. The church spoke out against injustices and educated its flock. That's not happening too much anymore.

AIDS/HIV doesn't discriminate, but YOU should. Before you have unprotected s*x, insist that your partner uses a c*ndom. If they are unsure about their status, they can get free HIV/AIDS testing from any clinic. The bottom line is protect yourself and put yourself first. The live you save could be your own.