(Taylor Media Services) Last week the Black AIDS Institute issued a highly disturbing report concerning the prevalence of AIDS among African Americans. Institute head Phill Wilson was seen on several national news broadcasts saying, “We see an epidemic that is growing in Black America. A half a million Black Americans are infected with HIV [the virus which causes AIDS]. And 50 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. are Black.” Wilson concluded with the following dramatic statement: “AIDS in America today, it can be argued, is a Black disease.”
But are his figures (which come from government data) correct? And does it serve a constructive purpose to characterize AIDS as a “Black disease”? These questions are raised in the wake of accusations that AIDS activists and governmental agencies have consistently overstated the AIDS infection rate. Berkeley University professor James Chin, for example, has accused various AIDS agencies of “scaremongering” saying the number of people worldwide with HIV has been inflated.”
Meanwhile, Michael Fumento has written a controversial book entitled “The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS.” He suggests that AIDS infection rates among non-gay groups have been exaggerated in an attempt to avoid stigmatizing homosexuals. And last year, at least one organization UNAids, admitted that it had overstated the worldwide prevalence of AIDS by at least 7 million people
But are his figures (which come from government data) correct? And does it serve a constructive purpose to characterize AIDS as a “Black disease”? These questions are raised in the wake of accusations that AIDS activists and governmental agencies have consistently overstated the AIDS infection rate. Berkeley University professor James Chin, for example, has accused various AIDS agencies of “scaremongering” saying the number of people worldwide with HIV has been inflated.”
Meanwhile, Michael Fumento has written a controversial book entitled “The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS.” He suggests that AIDS infection rates among non-gay groups have been exaggerated in an attempt to avoid stigmatizing homosexuals. And last year, at least one organization UNAids, admitted that it had overstated the worldwide prevalence of AIDS by at least 7 million people
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