African-American HIV/AIDS Resource Center: Profiles in Courage

Move over, Oprah, Colin and Condi: Here come some folks that are among the most inspiring African Americans you'll ever meet. They may not be rich or famous (yet!), but they each can boast of something even better -- courage. They're all fighting the good fight every day against HIV by overcoming society's stupid stigma and facing down their own worst fears. Their journeys have taught them to keep their eyes on the prize and not to sweat the small stuff.

Some of these people have been loud, proud and positive for years, though each person's road to self-love had its own set of speed bumps. You'll meet one man who, in telling us his story, is coming out publicly for the first time, and you'll meet another who will freely tell you almost anything you want to know about him -- except for his name. Some of these people are on meds, others off. One is biding her time with vitamins and supplements while she waits for a new med that might work. Some have been near death, others have never been sick. You'll meet a 15-year-old who was born with the virus and plans to go to Harvard, become a lawyer and have four kids. A former football star who lobbies for people with AIDS on Capitol Hill. A onetime prostitute who named her AIDS ministry PEACE. A church bishop whose health regimen includes playing the African drums. In fact, all of these people are banging their drums, handing out their wealth of wit and wisdom in their own unique way.

Whether you're dealing with a new diagnosis, hoping to become an activist or debating whether to disclose before sex, you'll find all kinds of advice -- and, better yet, acceptance -- here. "HIV gave me lemons, so I made lemonade," says our favorite HIV-positive lesbian/activist/mother from Trinidad. "And it's damn good lemonade!"

Anonymous Substance Abuse Counselor, AIDS service organization, Chicago, Ill. Read More Precious Jackson Women's Health Educator, Center for Health Justice, West Hollywood, Calif. Read More
Lois Bates Manager of Transgender Services, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, Ill. Read More Shelton Jackson Author, SSJ Publishing, Baltimore, Md. Read More
Rev. Frederick Batiste Pastor, New Orleans, La. Read More Terry Johnson HIV-Prevention Specialist, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Birmingham, Ala. Read More
D'Jaun Black HIV Prevention Outreach Coordinator, Detroit, Mich. Read More Fortunata Kasege Houston, Texas Read More
Regina Brandon Activist, People Enriching lives Advocating against AIDS, Conquering and Exhortation (PEACE), Los Angeles, Calif. Read More David P. Lee HIV Case Manager, Seattle, Wash. Read More
Greg Braxton Graduate Student, Chicago, Ill. Read More Michelle Lopez Treatment Administrator, Community Healthcare Network, Brooklyn, N.Y. Read More
Larry Bryant National Field Organizer, Housing Works, Inc., Washington, D.C. Read More Raven Lopez Student, Murry Bergtraum High School, Brooklyn, N.Y. Read More
George Burgess Treatment Educator, AIDS Survival Project, Atlanta, Ga. Read More Joyce McDonald Artist, Joyce McDonald Ministries, Brooklyn, N.Y. Read More
Mel Byrd Systems Engineer, telephone company, Garland, Texas Read More Robert Mintz Retired Drill Sergeant, Kansas City, Mo. Read More
Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks, D.D. Founder, Inner Light Ministries, Washington, D.C. Read More Joy Morris-Hightower HIV Activist, Chicago, Ill. Read More
Lois Crenshaw Women's Support Group Leader, Minneapolis, Minn. Read More Pamela Neely HIV Testing Counselor, Brooklyn, N.Y. Read More
Brian Datcher HIV Consultant, New Haven, Conn. Read More Marcya Owens HIV Community Consultant and Motivational Presenter, Illinois Read More
Lycia Davis Activist, Brooklyn, N.Y. Read More Martell Randolph Activist and Student, Los Angeles, Calif. Read More
David Garner Case Manager, SEARCH, Houston, Texas Read More Evany Turk Program Coordinator, Positive Adherence Stable Housing Now, Chicago, Ill. Read More
Keith Green Associate Editor, Test Positive Aware Network, Chicago, Ill. Read More Phill Wilson Executive Director and Founder, Black AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, Calif. Read More
Teniecka Hannah Student, Colorado Christian University, Colorado Springs, Colo. Read More

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