Black celebrities appear to be going all out in the fight against HIV/AIDS. By these individuals lending their names through various outlets combating this pandemic, these black stars are putting up instead of shutting up in this global battle to save lives. Soul songstress Mary J. Blige is one of those stars.
Blige, who have numerous awards and has earned international distinction for her soul-turning ballads and urban-flavored singing, has partnered with Belvedere RED to combat HIV and AIDS in Africa.
Half of whatever proceeds the alcoholic beverage company makes from worldwide sales of Belvedere (RED) Special Edition will go towards the Global Fund to try to eliminate HIV and AIDS in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), HIV/AIDS have claimed more than 25 million lives in the past 30 years.
As of 2010, an estimated 34 million people are living with the deadly disease. As many as 1.2 million people in Africa died from HIV/AIDS that same year. Another 1.9 individuals in Africa became afflicted with the disease, according to AVERT.org. Blige said she is happy to be part of the partnership with Belvedere.
“I’m delighted to be supporting (Belvedere) RED in their fight against HIV & AIDS in Africa,” Blige said. “It is one of the most devastating issues faced by millions in Africa and if we can raise awareness with this event and encourage people to buy RED, we’ll be one step closer to an HIV / AIDS free generation in 2015.”
Africa isn’t the only place where black people are being affected by HIV/AIDS. The numbers are getting worse for African Americans here in the United Sates as well. African Americans comprise a disproportionate number of all new HIV infections, according to a 2009 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black men accounted for 70 percent of all new HIV cases in 2009.
The Hollywood crowd has gotten the memo. Now instead of sitting idly by, black celebrities want to do their part in becoming vocal about raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. Using National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Feb.7) as a prop, more than 60 black celebrities united with Greater Than AIDS to bring attention to the severe and disproportionate epidemic facing Black Americans and reduce the stigma surrounding the disease.
Black Americans account for half of the approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in this country today — and 44 percent of new infections — while representing just 12 percent of the population. Blacks are also more likely to die of AIDS as compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
Greater Than AIDS is debuting new public service ads (PSAs), available at http://www.greaterthan.org/2012/02/black-celebrities-unite-against-aids/, coordinated social media posts and other messages from popular Black television and film actors, directors, producers, and others in Hollywood about the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS in the Black community.
Many of the participating talent spoke about people they knew who are living with or have died from the disease. Participating talent will be supporting the campaign’s themes of unity, hope and empowerment through their own Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms and through personal appearances.
“This is an unprecedented response from the Black Hollywood community to an issue that has touched so many of our lives,” said Phill Wilson, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute. The Black AIDS Institute is a co-founding partner with the Kaiser Family Foundation of Greater Than AIDS. “Our voice is one of the most powerful tools we have in combating the ignorance and stigma that still surrounds this disease.
“The celebrities featured in this campaign are all members of the Black AIDS Institute’s Black Hollywood Task Force on AIDS, which works to engage the Hollywood community in an effort to fight HIV/AIDS. The artists and executives who have joined us in this campaign realize that no matter the celebrity, they are also members of the Black community, and they are trying to do their part.”
Among the notable stars stamping their names to this cause are Samuel L. Jackson, Orlando Jones (Drumline), Bill Duke, Lance Gross (Tyler Perry’s House of Payne), Jill Marie Jones (Girlfriends), Dennis Haysbert (The Unit/24), Nia Long (Third Watch), Shaun Robinson (Access Hollywood) and Jurnee Smollett (Great Debaters).
Greater Than AIDS is an unprecedented collaboration among a broad coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States, in particular among Black Americans and other disproportionately affected groups. Through a national media campaign and targeted community outreach, Greater Than AIDS aims to increase knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS and confront the stigma surrounding the disease.
“HIV/AIDS is a deeply personal issue for many Black Americans, yet the issue is too often silent in many communities,” said Tina Hoff, Senior Vice President and Director, Health Communication and Media Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation. “According to a national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 60 percent — three in five — Black Americans know someone living with HIV/AIDS or who has died from the disease; for most, a family member or close friend.”
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com