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The annual Essence Music Festival attracts large crowds each year and this year's lineup with Chaka Khan, Boyz II Men, Jill Scott, Kanye West and Mary J. Blige and Usher will continue the tradition. Aside from the great music, the three day festival, which runs July 1-3, also features an empowerment series with speakers like Iyanla VanZant and numerous sponsors and vendors promoting wellness. This year Planned Parenthood is teaming up with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Black AIDS Institute to offer free HIV testing to the crowds.
The CDC encourages all Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 to get tested on a routine basis. African Americans are at a higher risk, making up 13 percent of the U.S. population but accounting for more than half of newly diagnosed HIV infections.
"We are excited to partner with the Louisiana Health Department and the Black AIDS Institute to help serve the African-American community," said Dr. Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "Testing is for everyone. Knowing your status can help you and your partners stay healthy, whether you're positive or negative."
Comments: (16)
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By: Greg on 6/30/2011 4:35PM
On the one hand I'm happy to hear that folks can get tested for HIV for free! And, I sincerly hope that they do take this opportunity to do just that! But, on the other hand how many actually will? In spite of HIV being an epidemic in the black community, with AA being responsible for clearly 51% of all reported cases for HIV/AIDS in the US today, and black people being only 13% of the US population many AA still don't appear to view this ongoing issue as serious. Lastly, I think its so sad that you have to have a concert to get people out to do this. Most won't get tested I can assure you of that reality! Sad, but true.
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By: Lois on 6/30/2011 9:52PM
Greg, i will say this one last time, WHITE people have already became the MINORITY in this country. US CENSUS AKA GOVERNMENT numbers are just smoke n screen to make people of color believe we have no POWER by deplicting us to STILL be the MINORITY. Im done with that. my comment had absolutely nothing to do with the article, i just get so frustrated by blk people being lead ASTRAY by white people on so many issues concerning US. I do care about blk women because i am one myself...i hope n pray that all get tested and know their status. one last thing, Most blk women are their own worst enemies when it comes to men. they allow men who they have PROOF is no good to stay in their lives and continue having unprotected sex with. they need to get out of their own way and learn to love themselves more than they love men. Most women stand around and allow men to pick n choose them as if they have no VALUE in life.
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By: Lois on 6/30/2011 6:06PM
GREG, please stop helping white people with that LIE that blk people only make up 13% of the population.....lol. they have been saying this for years on end, yet at the same time, they say that blks are producing kids at an alarming rate. they cant have it both ways. when its to try and humiliate us, we have a lot of kids! but when its to benefit them to say they are the majority, we are still at 12% of the population, LOL. white people have become the MINORITY for some time now, but they will continue with this same LIE to keep blks feeling like we have no POWER. Stop feeding the animals and simply look around the country. peace`
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By: Greg on 6/30/2011 6:23PM
Okay, my mistake. But, as of June 30, 2011 the correct figure for the US black population isn't 13% as I previously stated, but in reality is 12.6 %. that's according to the US Census Bureau. So, tell me what does that have to do with AIDS? Perhaps you need to go back, and read the article again! One would think that you'd be far more concerned with black people dying because of the aids epidemic than you would about making assertions about population. You probaly don't believe either that BW are, and continue to be the "highest risk group" in the US for HIV/AIDS for all races of women, and for both genders! Also, have the highest stats for all STD'S.
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By: Greg on 6/30/2011 10:42PM
@ Lois
What does your comments have to do with the issue of Aids testing? And, also Aids in the black community? You clearly must be stuck on stupid!
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By: R Land on 7/01/2011 6:10AM
It's virtually impossible to have any meaningful conversation with a person who is limited to only seeing in black and white...
They are limited in their thinking and lack the proper understanding on most issues. They do not engage conversation to learn, they engage for the sake of an argument.
Therefore, it's useless to even try...just leave them like you find them...wallowing in their own ignorance!
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By: Deb on 7/01/2011 7:20AM
I thought the same thing. Greg's point was to get tested without an Essence party!!!! How did it become a race issue like so many topics on this board???? Stats are always manipulated to prove the point of the person using them.....
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By: R Land on 7/01/2011 12:40PM
What he "greg" is also missing is this:
The Essence Music Festival has been going on for over 25 years, oh ignorant one! They are just taking that opportunity (while there's a mass of "people of color), to offer free testing.
It's no different than when the opportunity is presented to register people to vote!
Damn, get a clue...or at least educate yourself before you expose yourself!
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By: Greg on 7/03/2011 9:15PM
It's sad that black folks just remain in denail about AIDS, but continue to suffer the most from it. mopre than any other race! I guess that's why we have the most cases. You people need to wake up!
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By: Greg on 7/04/2011 12:30AM
Okay, let me try this again, especially for those that can't comprehend, because it's so clear that most people here just don't either get it, or want to get it! I simply asked why not just go get tested period! You don't need to have a concert to promote that activity? What's more important? A concert, or getting tested so that one can live? That's my point! Because concerts don't kill, AIDS does! So, why is that so difficult to understand? There's so much denial in the AA community these days it's just unbelievable! Guess that why there's an epidemic in the first place! Concerts obviously have a higher priority than does black people who are continuing to die in mass! When are black people going to finally get it?
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