Feature

HIV/AIDS in African Americans

• Blacks make up approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population. However, at the end of 2007, blacks accounted for almost half (46%) of people living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 U.S. dependent areas with long-term, confidential, name-based HIV reporting.
• In 2006, blacks accounted for nearly half (45%) of new infections in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Even though new HIV infections among blacks overall have been roughly stable since the early 1990s, compared with members of other races and ethnicities they continue to account for a higher proportion of cases at all stages of HIV—from new infections to deaths. For example, in 2006, the rate of new HIV infection for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women.
• In 2006, black men accounted for two-thirds of new infections (65%) among all blacks. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) represented 63% of new infections among all black men, and 35% among all MSM.

Take Action

1. Distribute posters, fact sheets, and other materials in clinics and community centers and at events.
• Download posters, postcards, fact sheets, and other materials.


2. Plan or participate in an HIV awareness and testing event. Collective action by everyone affected or infected by HIV is one of our most powerful weapons against this epidemic.
• Submit an event registration form.
• Find an event near you.


3. Spread the message through the media and online.
• Follow NBHAAD on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and share their postings and tweets.
• Run the Public Service Announcements on TV or online.
• Join in the Greater Than AIDS public information campaign, organized by the Black AIDS Media Partnership as part of CDC's Act Against AIDS campaign to refocus national attention on the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States.
• Participate in the i know campaign which encourages young African Americans to talk about HIV and what can be done to prevent it. Join the conversation on Twitter.