Post by bingbong on Feb 11, 2009 0:41:07 GMT 12
February 9, 2009 -- Updated 1456 GMT (2256 HKT)
Author: 'I make HIV real to them'[/b]
edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/02/09/Marvelyn.Brown/index.html
see her interview in the link
Author: 'I make HIV real to them'
# Story Highlights
# Marvelyn Brown, 24, wrote "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive"
# The book tells how Brown contracted HIV at age 19 through unprotected sex
# She uses her story to inspire young people
# Brown: People "are just not educated" about HIV
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Even though African-Americans make up only about 13 percent of the United States' population, they account for almost half of the people who contract HIV and are diagnosed with AIDS.
Marvelyn Brown, 24, is the author of "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive."
Marvelyn Brown, 24, is the author of "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive."
In fact, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black men, women and children in the U.S.
Around this year's Black AIDS Day on February 7, activists are out trying to educate the public about the disease.
Among those speaking out is Marvelyn Brown, 24, the author of "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive."
Brown spoke with CNN's Nicole Lapin about living with disease, defying stereotypes and inspiring others.
The following is an edited transcript of the interview.
Nicole Lapin: After 30 years [since HIV was identified] I'm curious that the disease really gained a lot of awareness. Do you think people's perceptions have changed? Do you think the stereotypes still exist? Video Watch Nicole Lapin's interview with Marvelyn Brown »
Don't Miss
* Blog: Young People Who Rock -- Marvelyn Brown
* Young People Who Rock: Bringing music to the deaf
Marvelyn Brown: See, the thing about HIV is that I think people are aware of it. They've heard of it, they know of it. They're just not educated about it. I've had the opportunity to look at some of the comments that people were making. Just looking at the comments you could see, you could tell that people had a misconception of HIV as a whole.
Lapin: What is that? What's the misconception?
Brown: That it's a certain group of people. I know [February 7] is Black AIDS Day, which is perfectly fine because it does affect the black community. But this is a human disease, one that affects us all.
When I tell you I was shocked because I contracted a virus that I thought I was immune from, I immediately put it on gay men, IV drug users, prostitutes. I never thought someone like myself, whoever that was, could contract HIV. When I go and I speak, that's the main thing that I hear. People are constantly telling me I make HIV real to them.
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Lapin: It speaks to question, "What do you think is the most effective way to teach young women about HIV and AIDS?" Because it seems like they relate to you. They get you. You're their peer.
Brown: That's the thing. Just simply be open and honest with them. I've found that more effective, just me telling my story and not holding back. Especially with my autobiography, "The Naked Truth," I just opened up. I was so vulnerable and people could relate to that.
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I liked how she describes her story and the saliency in her story.
Author: 'I make HIV real to them'[/b]
edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/02/09/Marvelyn.Brown/index.html
see her interview in the link
Author: 'I make HIV real to them'
# Story Highlights
# Marvelyn Brown, 24, wrote "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive"
# The book tells how Brown contracted HIV at age 19 through unprotected sex
# She uses her story to inspire young people
# Brown: People "are just not educated" about HIV
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Even though African-Americans make up only about 13 percent of the United States' population, they account for almost half of the people who contract HIV and are diagnosed with AIDS.
Marvelyn Brown, 24, is the author of "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive."
Marvelyn Brown, 24, is the author of "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive."
In fact, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black men, women and children in the U.S.
Around this year's Black AIDS Day on February 7, activists are out trying to educate the public about the disease.
Among those speaking out is Marvelyn Brown, 24, the author of "The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive."
Brown spoke with CNN's Nicole Lapin about living with disease, defying stereotypes and inspiring others.
The following is an edited transcript of the interview.
Nicole Lapin: After 30 years [since HIV was identified] I'm curious that the disease really gained a lot of awareness. Do you think people's perceptions have changed? Do you think the stereotypes still exist? Video Watch Nicole Lapin's interview with Marvelyn Brown »
Don't Miss
* Blog: Young People Who Rock -- Marvelyn Brown
* Young People Who Rock: Bringing music to the deaf
Marvelyn Brown: See, the thing about HIV is that I think people are aware of it. They've heard of it, they know of it. They're just not educated about it. I've had the opportunity to look at some of the comments that people were making. Just looking at the comments you could see, you could tell that people had a misconception of HIV as a whole.
Lapin: What is that? What's the misconception?
Brown: That it's a certain group of people. I know [February 7] is Black AIDS Day, which is perfectly fine because it does affect the black community. But this is a human disease, one that affects us all.
When I tell you I was shocked because I contracted a virus that I thought I was immune from, I immediately put it on gay men, IV drug users, prostitutes. I never thought someone like myself, whoever that was, could contract HIV. When I go and I speak, that's the main thing that I hear. People are constantly telling me I make HIV real to them.
advertisement
Lapin: It speaks to question, "What do you think is the most effective way to teach young women about HIV and AIDS?" Because it seems like they relate to you. They get you. You're their peer.
Brown: That's the thing. Just simply be open and honest with them. I've found that more effective, just me telling my story and not holding back. Especially with my autobiography, "The Naked Truth," I just opened up. I was so vulnerable and people could relate to that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I liked how she describes her story and the saliency in her story.
