Illinois: Celebrities Add Zest to Sober AIDS Talk

Robeson High School was the first Chicago school chosen by Black Entertainment Television for the HIV/AIDS prevention program it presents nationwide. In Chicago, BET teamed with the Luck Care Center, an HIV/AIDS clinic, to provide a program to dispel myths and make teens think twice about having unprotected sex.

Singers Sammie and Coko addressed the crowd, as did Dr. William Johnson, medical director at Luck Care. They also heard from a 38-year-old HIV patient who contracted the virus when she was raped at 13. About 300 students listened as the speakers talked about how HIV/AIDS is ravaging the black community.

James Breashears, Roberson's principal, said the students would pay more attention to facts and real-life stories coming from famous people. "This will have an impact," he said of the program. "They'll talk about this for months to come."

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