emPower Magazine Blog

Black Teen Murders Are On The Rise: When Will We Rise And Do Something About It

By DeShuna Spencer

Buried between the news of the Middle East crisis, Blagojevich's senate appointment, the disturbing "Barack the Magic Negro" song, and the lackluster Holiday retail sales, lie yet another disturbing statistic concerning our youth. According to a new report, murders of African-Americans ages 14-17 have risen 39 percent since 2000 and 2001. During the 2006-07 period, homicides in which blacks teens were the victims rose to 927 compared to 666 during 2000-01. 

It would be interesting to see if the study broke down the black teen murders by economic status. Because I am sure that most of these murders were in low-income black communities as opposed to middle to upper class black neighborhoods.

James Alan Fox, co-author of the study, contributes the spike to cuts in law-enforcement programs and activities geared to youth "who had inadequate adult supervision, high rates of single-parent homes, inferior schools and widespread gang activity."

I have blogged so many times about the homicide epidemic plaguing our young black men and women that right now I am at a lost for words. How many more statistics and studies do we need to begin to take a stand on this issue. After all, murder is the leading cause of death of young black men. Just think about it. Between 2000 and 2007 thousands of black teens, who could have been doctors, architects, carpenters or anything they wanted, lost their chance of a future because of a gang beef, drug deal gone wrong, a stray bullet or a petty argument.

Last year, 426 black males between the ages of 14 and 17 were killed in gun crimes, the study showed, which means 100 more black teens were gunned down in their own backyards than U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq in 2008. According to icasualties.org, 312 servicemen and women died in Iraq this year.

When these kids (and their parents), who are in blighted neighborhoods, leave home everyday, it's like they are going off to war. They have to fight off trigger-happy "terrorists" who use fear to control neighborhoods. How can we expect children to do well in school when they have to dodge bullets to get there.

I don't know about you, but I'm deeply disturbed by these statistics. In 2009, we need to make the lives of our youth a priority. If we don't, we could potentially lose a percentage of our future leaders.

DeShuna Spencer is editorial director of emPower magazine and publisher of Liu Karama Productions LLC.

When Our Children Forget Our History

By Cheryl Donovan, Special to emPower magazine

Nothing saddened me more than the fact that three of my African American female students had no idea what the term "lynching" meant. These were otherwise, decently educated young black women seeking a career in the medical field.

During our exploration of medical ethics, we were watching a film about the "Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment" which took place in the 1930s. This experiment was responsible for the spreading of syphilis to thousands of African American people in Tuskegee, Alabama.

During the course of the film, the main character suggested that lynching had killed his brother. The students turned to me and asked what it meant. My heart fell to my knees at the thought that any African American child in the United States would not recognize what this term meant.
With a lack of understanding like this, it's no wonder that Tiger Woods was able to blow off the comment made by the news reporter some weeks ago.

You see, the problem is that our children are sitting in classrooms with people who either don't care that they learn or who have their hands tied by the system when it comes to how and what they teach.
In Texas, teachers spend a disproportionate amount of their time teaching to a standardized test. How on earth do you standardize one's education? Every person learns in a different way and at different speeds. Some learn by seeing, some learn by listening, and some learn by doing. There are also those people who have testing phobias that prohibit them from doing well on any test. Yet the powers that be have deemed it necessary to gauge a person’s intelligence using these standardized tests. They have even gone so far as to connect the teacher’s ability to get a bonus with the success of the students on the standardized test.

Field trips to museums, symphonies, and other cultural outlets are few and far between because teachers are in constant fear of losing their jobs if their students don't perform well. Therefore, many of them don't even bother addressing a holistic approach to learning, which would include learning ones history, culture, and background.

It's no wonder that these three young ladies had no idea what lynching meant. The issue here is that if we forget our history, we will be doomed to repeat. When the atrocities that were inflicted upon African Americans is all but forgotten, a new reign of terror is bound to come about: Jena 6, nooses hanging at prominent fortune 500 companies, a man dragged to death in Jasper, Texas.
We must begin to teach our children about their history and make it relevant for them today. If the schools won't do it, we have to. We can no longer afford to relegate this most important task to people who could care less if we know what has happened to us in the past.

Cheryl Lacey-Donovan is an author, educator, and inspirational speaker. Cheryl is also the host of Worth More Than Rubies an internet radio talk show that airs on http://www.redchurchradio.com. She has been a mentor for Christian Women Today and is the founder of A Virtuous Woman-31. Cheryl has been happily married for 14 years to her husband Keith and she has two adult sons and a stepdaughter. She is available for interviews and conferences by contacting worthmorethanrubies@avirtuouswoman-31.org.

Don’t’ Believe the Health Hype

By G. Hyman

Well, here we are again at the end of the year.

So what is the next step all you can do in the New Year?  Is it to be a better you than you were last year?

Now, if this means getting up earlier to do cardio, taking lunch to work to keep from getting hungry, or walking after dinner with your wife to keep from binging, then so be it.  PLEASE DO NOT fall for the newest fad or infomercial machine. The truth is that there is no easy way around it—to lose weight you have to work at it. Believe me, it is not an overnight process, so get educated on your options and take the necessary steps to get back into shape and make fitness a part of your daily life.

The first step is to make an honest assessment of where you are in relation to your desired goals and then make a plan on how you can reach them.

Why is our health not a priority in our lives?  Why do we allow so many things to come before fitness?  Do you know how being overweight is affecting you?  Here are the top five weight loss myths:

5) “You Can Lose Weight without Exercising”

If you are de-conditioned (in other words, out of shape) at this time in your life and you have not exercised in awhile, have you realized that this strategy has no worked for you? You need a proper diet AND exercise program to reach your fitness goals.

4) “If I Do 100 Crunches I Can Get Abs”

Let’s clear this up.  You can do all the crunches you want, but if you don’t remove the layer of fat covering them, they will never be seen.

3) “Lose 20 lbs. in 30 days”

The old saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.” This is not a safe way to lose fat or weight.  Ask yourself, what are you losing—muscle, fat or water?  All three of these can be lost, so you should know which one you are losing. There is a way to lose weight safely without health risks, so talk to a fitness professional to get on track.

2) “10 Minutes a Day is All You Need to Get a Body like This”

Come on guys. If it were really that easy, everyone would have a beach body. And it would not be $19.99.

1) “If I Stop Working Out My Muscle Will Turn To Fat”

This is definitely the number one myth.  People, you must understand that muscle and fat are two different types of tissue. They cannot turn into each other any more than an apple can become an orange. Trust me, it cannot happen.

Unfortunately, there are many so-called quick fixes, pills, supplements, spot reduction gimmicks and herbal remedies that claim to be able to help you lose massive amounts of weight with no effort. They show a depressed, overweight man or woman who has “tried everything” to lose weight until they discovered the advertiser’s miracle product. After purchasing the product, the person goes on to lose incredible amounts of weight overnight.

A safe and effective weight management program is not a plan that you go on and start over when you've been "bad." You must become flexible enough to allow it to become a way of life. Only then will these healthier habits work with you and for you rather than against you.

I should not have to say this one, but I will.  To be truly good at anything, you need consistency. To get consistent results you need consistent training and nutrition practices.  Do not blow off your workout because American Idol is on—get a DVR. Any workout is better than a missed one

This Christmas Eve, Have you been Naughty or Nice?

By Crecilla Scott

Today, millions of children all over the world are anticipating the sheer joy of waking up to find cool toys under their tree and a day filled with endless playing and spending time with their families. They will be overcome with excitement and joy as they tear open their gifts to see what they have received for staying off the “naughty” list and being on the “nice” list.  If only it were that simple and straightforward for the rest of us, the world would run a little more smoothly.

Imagine what the CEOs of Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, AIG, General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford would get for Christmas based on their naughty behavior. If we apply the same naughty or nice standards to these troglodytes, what should they wake up to find under their tree tomorrow morning? What should AIG executives get for being bailed out by billions of taxpayer dollars while spending $400,000 on an exclusive, luxury retreat (including $200,000 for hotel rooms and over $23,000 on spa treatments)? What should GM, Ford, and Chrysler’s CEOs receive for flying into Washington D.C. separately on their multi-million dollar private jets to ask for $25 billion to breathe life into their failing companies and gas-guzzling products to avoid bankruptcy?  (GM’s Rick Wagoner cruised to D.C. in a $36 million corporate jet at an estimated cost of $20,000 roundtrip.)  What should the top executives of Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs receive for over leveraging their debt and assuming more risk than was reasonable – to the detriment of the entire U.S. economy?  While no gift (or lack there of) would fully embody the magnitude of their deeds, I can think of a few things they deserve on Christmas day.

Humility. These executives are extremely arrogant. They live a life so extravagant and extraordinarily and unnecessarily luxurious (and wasteful), that they have completely lost their grounding. Their “naughty” behaviors reflect a lack of restraint and their excessive lifestyle betrays any sense of humility.  Their behavior after the bailout is almost as reprehensible as the behavior that got us into this mess in the first place.

Reality Check. The general argument for paying executives $28 million salaries, $10 million bonuses, and multi-million dollar perks, is that companies must offer these outrageous compensation packages to attract the best and the brightest.  That’s B.S. If the average salary for CEOs at the top 500 companies made $2 million annually – they’d still attract the best and the brightest.  Oftentimes, the best and the brightest can be found in academia. You ever heard of MIT, Harvard, Yale, or Brown?  While these types of professionals are certainly paid above average wages, they are still paid within our stratosphere.  The same people who leave those institutions to go work for $20 million a year are the same people who would leave to go work for $2 million a year (assuming $2 million per year is the market rate).  Furthermore, if our current economic collapse is the result of our “best and brightest” CEOs, it looks like we need to rethink our definition of “best and brightest.”

Pink Slip. I don’t need to elaborate on this Christmas gift.
I guess I shouldn’t focus on the executives, since I have to worry about what list I made it onto this year. This Christmas Eve, we know what list corporate executives are on, but the real question is – have you been naughty or nice?

Crecilla Scott is the founder of Infinity Research, LLC, a social science research company in the Washington DC area. She is the host of a local TV show, "Conversations with Crecilla." She is also a passionate speaker, who has given professional presentations for various organizations and federal agencies. She can be reached at Crecilla@liukarama.com.

Resources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/07/aig-congressional-hearing_n_132614.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStreet/story?id=6285739&page=1
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/11/lets_have_publi.html
http://investment-blog.net/a-partial-list-of-atrocities-from-these-companies/
http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/09/news/economy/corporate_library_exec_comp/index.htm?postversion=2008120

Is Giving a Check to an Addict Like Handing Candy to a Child?

By DeShuna Spencer

If you placed a bowl of candy in front of a child before dinner, most likely he or she will eat some, not thinking twice about spoiling their appetite. Now, what if you placed hundreds of dollars in the hands of drug addicts and alcoholics? Would they make the right decision?

Project Prevention, an organization based in North Carolina, offers cash incentives of $300 to drug- and alcohol-addicted women to receive long-term or permanent birth control. Founded in 1997 to reduce the number of infants exposed to substance abuse, the organization has served 2,500 participants responsible for over 10,000 pregnancies prior to entering the program.

I’m no advocate for or against birth control, but I find it disturbing that an organization’s primary mission is to prevent pregnancies. Instead of handing addicted women a check for receiving Depo-Provera, Norplant or any other birth control, why not help them with the addiction itself.

According to the Web site, this is how the program works: A participant contacts Project Prevention and paperwork is sent to them. The individual then makes an appointment with a clinic or doctor of their choice. Once the procedure is complete, they return the forms to Project Prevention, and the information is verified. Once verified, the participant is mailed a check in the amount they are owed.

I understand that one organization cannot do it all. Helping drug and alcohol addicted people become sober can be a daunting task. But I find it irresponsible to limit services to simply reimbursing women for a Depo shot. Also, I have known people on drugs, and they would do anything to get money. God only knows what manipulative things some of these women are willing to do to get $300 in their hands. According to the site, the birth control procedures are verified. But what if participant some how hustled money from a family member to get the birth control and used the money for more drugs? Can Project Prevention really be sure that these addicts are being truthful?

I’m sure some of these women, with good intentions, contact Project Prevention looking for a way to end the cycle of unwanted pregnancies. In a way, it is the responsible thing to do. If you are addicted and have children you can’t care for already, it makes sense to at least get on a method of birth control if you can’t kick the habit. I’m just not sure if hardcore addicts are responsible enough to make that decision.

A recent federal government report estimated that each year in the United States some 320,000 babies are born exposed to alcohol and illicit drugs. These babies are most likely born prematurely, underweight, and with mental and physical disabilities, which takes its toll on the education, foster care and welfare systems. About 8 million of America's 75 million children have a parent addicted to drugs or alcohol and what’s even more disturbing is that 70 percent of the children of addicts become addicted to drugs themselves.

According to Project Prevention’s Web site: it has prevented more than 2,100 children from being born to substance abuse, which would have exceeded billions of dollars when taking into account the cost associated with caring for these children. The costs include healthcare, special education, and foster care.

This is a huge problem that costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year. But is handing money to addicts the answer? I don’t know.

DeShuna Spencer is editorial director of emPower magazine and publisher of Liu Karama Productions LLC.

Gifts to Give this Holiday Season

By Crecilla Scott

I should start this commentary with a disclaimer: I am among those who will spend countless hours shopping for loved ones this holiday season. Despite the caveat to be conservative, don’t overspend, and don’t over do it--I will run countless errands, buy a few (inexpensive) “extra” gifts, and run myself into the ground decorating, wrapping gifts, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and hosting family and friends for dinner. As I struggle to get my activities under control and within moderation, I must admit that the end result--spending the day with my family, laughing, playing games, telling stories, having fun, enjoying each other’s company and gifts, and celebrating Christ’s birth--is priceless.

Over the years, I have become a very good bargain shopper. I absolutely love purchasing quality gifts at deeply discounted prices. This weekend, I found a beautiful blouse on sale for $10 (regular price: $40) and I once purchased a brand new, remote control car, on sale for 77 cents!  In addition to buying reasonably priced gifts, I also enjoy giving sentimental gifts, which tend to be inexpensive and sometimes, they are free.  Here are a few creative ideas to help get you through this holiday season:

1. Delegate tasks – My life is always easier when I ask for help. One less errand to run is a lot less stress and several more hours saved.
2. Start early – I was done shopping for my daughter by the first week in December.  Grown people can wait.
3. Shop late – If you generally wait until the last minute to do everything, you can find comfort in knowing that you will get deep discounts and great bargains when you shop.
4. Buy items for your household – If you are in need of new underwear, new towels and linen, or if your cooking utensils are worn or your shower curtain is falling apart, take advantage of the deep holiday sales to buy items for your household.
5. Creative Gifts: Pictures – What parent wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a beautifully framed picture of their children? What about a picture of your kids on a mouse pad? Or your beloved pet’s picture in a calendar?  Most convenient stores like CVS pharmacy, offers restoration services. If you have an old picture of a grandparent or great-grandparent, get the picture restored and present it as a gift to a family member who would appreciate it. If none of these ideas sound appealing, what about a photo album?  People who take pictures never seem to have enough photo albums to store them all!
6. Creative Gifts: Coupons – If you know someone who loves to shop, why not give him or her coupons. I receive 20% and 30% off coupons in the mail constantly. If a coupon arrives from a store that my friend or family member loves, then I will pass on the savings because I know that they will certainly appreciate the discount.
7. Inexpensive Gifts: Magazine subscription – I am embarrassed to tell you exactly how many family members received an Essence magazine subscription from me, but let’s just say that when you get an offer to give a free subscription to a family member, and a deeply discounted rate for additional subscriptions, you jump on it!
8. Sentimental Gifts: Favorite CD/DVD – One of my best friends bought me a New Edition DVD for Christmas last year. I realize that this gift does not sound exciting to most of the people reading this commentary. But if you are a New Edition fan, you understand that this is one of the best gifts you could POSSIBLY give another New Edition fan.
9. Helpful Gifts: Forgiveness – Give the gift of forgiveness this season.  Personally, I need to extend this gift to someone who shall remain nameless.
10. Helpful Gifts: Mentorship – Give the gift of guidance. Get involved with an organization in your community. Mentor or tutor a child. The gift you receive in return is fulfillment and gratitude.

Remember to slow down enough to actually enjoy this holiday season. The memories you create along the way will be priceless.

Crecilla Scott is the founder of Infinity Research, LLC, a social science research company in the Washington DC area. She is the host of a local TV show, "Conversations with Crecilla." She is also a passionate speaker, who has given professional presentations for various organizations and federal agencies. She can be reached at Crecilla@liukarama.com.

Bailing Out America

By Timothy Nevels

One in 10 jobs in America have something to do with the car industry. That is amazing in itself. The biggest question lately has been should or shouldn’t the taxpayers bail out industries that have thumbed their noses at most of us. Just think back to the last car you bought. After signing over your first born, they LET you drive off the lot in a vehicle that loses its value as soon as you cross the street. Yet, we are supposed to bail them out. When is the last time you tried to get a personal, business or any type of loan from the bank? How did they treat you? I think you know where I’m going with this. Who is going to bail you and me out? Yes, I understand how hard it will be for our economy if these businesses fail, but this bailout will be at the cost of trillions to our grand and great-grand children. In five years will these industries come back to Congress asking for more?

Many people argue about how great the economy was during the Clinton presidency; however, the counter argument to that theory is there was a Republican congress that helped. But Republicans want to blame Clinton for seeking lower mortgage loan requirements, especially for those using Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The pendulum cannot be stopped; it swings both ways. It’s just easier to say. A lot of folks were riding high on a house of cards. Now the house has fallen and it has once again left up to us, as American taxpayer, the duty of bailing the country out. Will this free up credit for those who need it most? I doubt it.

Detroit has made some accomplishments by producing cars that get more than 25 miles per gallon and hybrids. This is a testament that Detroit has been listening. This infrastructure costs money, and with the unions adding about two grand to every vehicle that rolls off the assembly line, maybe it is time to look at unions. Toyota has no unions, yet they produce some the best cars in the industry. That two grand pays for retired autoworkers’ benefits, and in some cases, pays workers not to work. Has the time come to do away with unions? We as a nation need to think about what we are willing to pay for products. The pendulum is swinging again—the cost of unions versus the cost of not having them. Look at Wal-Mart. The Evil Empire refuses to listen to American workers and go through great lengths to break up any union talks. Going as far as to hire mostly those who specifically say they don’t want to join a union. Yet, we want those low prices don’t we?  Then look at the auto industry and the cost of American cars. It makes you wonder. The question for our new president is not how long it’s going to take but how many companies are going to make the sacrifice necessary to get us through these times. Even bigger question is how many will still be around by the end of the president’s term. Each of us should be writing our congressman and telling them to regulate when necessary and protect our investments in the banks, automakers and any other company we are bailing out. I will be watching, Will you?

Are today's athletes living in fear?

By Quincy Lewis

More and more, the news of athletes being caught with guns is becoming an everyday thing. Most recently Plaxico Burress was charged with possession of a fire arm after accidentally shooting himself at a night club in Manhattan.

Athletes are not allowed to have firearms with them at the facilities in which they practice or play. This is a situation that some NFL players have said makes them feel uncomfortable. It leaves them in a situation of vulnerability, whereas criminals know there are no guns on premises and the robbery could go that much easier.

The murders of Sean Taylor and Darrent Williams initially sparked the players' unrest and doubt of their overall security. Taylor, probably the most frightening story because the fatal shooting took place inside his home in Florida, has quite a few players uneasy about their security.

One might easily dismiss the athletes worries by saying there are some situations that the athletes sometimes position themselves to where robbery and other acts of violence might take place.  This is when you have the age old struggle of a celebrity wanting to just live a normal life. 

Some of these players, however, are straight out of college. This whole celebrity thing is new to them.  Less than two years ago they were popular on campus and were going to fraternity parties.  Now they’ve left college partying and have come into the league making millions and are expected to do something they were just accustomed to doing less than a year ago – just living life.

The high profiles of these athletes are no secret when their salaries and estimated worth are publicized on television, in print and on the internet. Should these athletes be afraid? Should these athletes be able to defend themselves? Catch ya' on the FLIPSIDE

The Unfolding Drama of Gov. Blagojevich

By Crecilla Scott

“I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it… I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful…” – Illinois Governor Blagojevich, speaking to reporters one day before his arrest on federal corruption charges.

By now, I’m sure you have heard about the antics and subsequent arrest of Illinois’ village idiot and soon-to-be-former-Governor Rod Blagojevich. Forget labeling him as a corrupt politician – he wrote the book on “how to become a corrupt politician!” This guy’s arrogance, audacity, and temerity will surely earn him a special place in infamy. He has NO brakes.  I guess he didn’t take notes when former Illinois Governor George Ryan was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison on federal corruption charges in 2006; and apparently, he didn’t get the memo when former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned in March 2008 amid allegations that his favorite hobby was hanging out with high-priced prostitutes.

Among other things, he is accused of delaying $8 million in state aid to a children’s hospital because the CEO didn’t donate $50,000 to his campaign. What kind of creep would do such a thing? He is also accused of requiring financial favors in exchange for official state business and conspiring to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune board members who were critical of him. Most outrageous of all, he planned to sell President-elect Obama’s vacant Illinois senate seat.  Again, this guy has NO brakes.  Gov. Blagojevich is so arrogant and delusional that he invited investigators to tape his conversations, even though he knew that he was being investigated. Honestly, a psychological evaluation is in order.

Gov. Blagojevich’s unfolding train wreck could not possibly be more unbelievable (and disgusting). His greed and arrogance is beyond pathetic – it’s scary. When elected officials violate the public’s trust and abuse their power, we all loose. Therefore, we must continue to hold elected leaders accountable for their actions and decisions. We must send a strong message to our leaders that we deserve the best that this country has to offer, not the worst.

Additional Resources
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-maindec09,0,7734677.story
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2008/Mr-Un-Popularity/index.php?cp=1&si=0#artanc
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/08/blagojevich-im-lawful-fee_n_149441.html

Crecilla Scott is the founder of Infinity Research, LLC, a social science research company in the Washington DC area. She is the host of a local TV show, "Conversations with Crecilla." She is also a passionate speaker, who has given professional presentations for various organizations and federal agencies. She can be reached at Crecilla@liukarama.com.

World AIDS Day Was December 1: Did You Notice?

By Crecilla Scott

“It has become increasingly clear in recent months that we are facing an economic crisis of historic proportions.” – President-elect Barack Obama, Nov. 26, 2008, News Conference in Chicago, IL

“This is about much more than just Detroit…it's about saving the US economy from a catastrophic collapse.”– Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and chief executive officer

I guess you are wondering why I would begin a commentary on HIV/AIDS, with quotes about the financial crisis. After all, what does the struggling economy have to do with the HIV/AIDS crisis? I’m glad you asked me. I’ll do my best to put things in perspective.

As many of you know, I am an avid reader. I can’t seem to get enough of CNN.com, HuffingtonPost.com, Washingtonpost.com, NewYorkTimes.com, Time magazine, Essence magazine, emPower magazine, PBS.org, NPR.org, USAToday.com…you get my point.  When I sat down to write this commentary, it occurred to me that we have been inundated with information about our failing economy. Every major newspaper in the country has devoted front-page status to the continuing problems associated with our economy. I have read many articles that give detailed explanations for the increase in foreclosure rates, decrease in property values, the importance of free-flowing credit and available capital, shady mortgage-backed securities (derivatives), and over-leveraged debt. In an effort to understand the information, I couldn’t decide if I should pursue a CPA or an MBA. Then came December 1--World AIDS Day. My interest in our economic meltdown, well, melted down.
As a Sociologist, I must admit that I was absolutely stunned when I read the statistics on HIV/AIDS within the Black community. The numbers are simply staggering. The stories are heartbreaking. The reality of the infection rate is almost unbelievable. The enormity of the problem is almost overwhelming. The thought of so many young people who are diagnosed is almost unbearable.  The lack of awareness is unacceptable.  Consider this: *

1. For Black teenagers and adults, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnosis is 10 times the rate of their white counterparts and almost 3 times the rate of their Hispanic counterparts.
2. For black women, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses is nearly 23 times the rate of their peers (white women).
3. African Americans make up approximately 13% of the U.S. population, but in 2005, African Americans accounted for almost half (18,121 cases or 49%) of the estimated 37,331 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 33 states.  (By comparison, whites accounted for 31% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in that year and Hispanics accounted for 18%.)
4. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Black women between the ages of 25 and 34 and the third leading cause of death for Black women between the ages of 35 to 44.
5. Among women in the United States, almost three-quarters of all new HIV/AIDS cases are Black women. *All information provided by the Center for Disease Control

So what is the tie-in to the failing economy? The tie-in has more to do with the amount of information that we receive about the economy compared to the lack of information we receive about other issues of importance to our community. Imagine if the HIV/AIDS epidemic received the same amount of high profile media attention as the economic crisis? Imagine if there were thousands of articles attempting to explain the complex, devastating epidemiological crisis that we are facing? I believe that an increase in awareness (among other things) would help to significantly decrease infection rates. We’ve got to reach people and let them know that this is a preventable disease and that our lifestyle is killing us – and we can’t sugar coat the message.

In fact, our message can come from the two quotes at the beginning of this commentary.

“It has become increasingly clear in recent years that we are facing a health crisis of historic proportions.”

“This is about much more than just African Americans…it's about saving US citizens’ health from a catastrophic collapse.”

Crecilla Scott is the founder of Infinity Research, LLC, a social science research company in the Washington DC area. She is the host of a local TV show, "Conversations with Crecilla." She is also a passionate speaker, who has given professional presentations for various organizations and federal agencies. She can be reached at Crecilla@liukarama.com.

Additional Resources
http://www.posornot.com – Test your instinct. See if you can determine who is HIV positive.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/factsheets/aa.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/women.htm
http://www.blackaids.org/ShowArticle.aspx?pagename=ShowArticle&articletype=PRESSROOM&articleid=52&pagenumber=1
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/reports/heightendresponse.htm#t1-1
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/12/01/fauci.world.aids.day/index.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/16006.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-jim-mcdermott/we-must-never-forget-and_b_147439.html