We’re starting to see the numbers rise there. The numbers have never been big among our parents or grandparents but because they are sexually active now, the numbers are growing. The numbers have never been big, but they are growing.
What is your message for young people in particular?
They have to educated themselves enough to know about the disease. A lot of times they don’t really know enough about HIV and AIDS. A lot of time they have misinformation and that causes them to be careless.
It seems like the message is the same. Wrap it up, wrap it up or you’re going to die.
A lot of times young people don’t want to listen or they listen halfway. But not only do they have to deal with HIV/AIDS but teen pregnancy as well.
What about home testing?
The good thing is that today you can do the home testing and it’s all been approved and you can find out in 20 minutes. They’ve all been approved it’s the same test they use in clinics. Privacy a lot of times stops us, especially in our community because people don’t want to see them going in or out of the clinic. Early detection is important. I had to get tested due to insurance. I had to get tested and if not for that physical, I wouldn’t be here today.
People see you doing well and think, well, I can live with it. And so there not taking the precautions.
I’ve been the blessing and the curse for HIV and AIDS. I’ve been the blessing because I’m doing well, but I’ve been the curse because people see me doing well. But the virus acts differently in all of us. Just because I’m doing well, doesn’t meant that you’re going to do well. We have to go out and get tested and not be ashamed because that whole part of being ashamed that’s killing us, too.
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Magic Johnson: ‘I’m A Blessing And A Curse For HIV/AIDS Awareness’ was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
