Letter From the Editor

For many years, race in the U.S. was quite literally a question of "black and white." Over the past generation, the explosion in the Latino population in the nation as a whole and in New York City in particular has complicated that picture, increasing awareness of the complexities of race and ethnicity.

Yet all too often, Asian and Pacific-Islanders Americans (as well as Native Americans) are still overlooked, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS. So we are especially pleased to present this issue's cover story on "The Forgotten Minority." Writer Kevin Lo explains the enormous challenges facing a minority that hails from dozens of nations, each with distinct cultures, histories, and languages that are often poorly understood by outsiders.

This issue's focus is rounded out by a disturbing excerpt about the growth of the epidemic in Asia, and a profile of a study of HIV prevention among NYC Asian immigrants. Additional features provide insight into choosing HIV drugs that work for you, protecting yourself from food- and water-borne disease, and pointers for battling insomnia.