JANUARY 15th-FEBRUARY 15th 2010

Obama’s Journey toward Realizing King’s Dream

One year ago Barack Obama stood on the steps of the Capitol and took the oath of office, becoming the 44^th president of the United States of America and the first African-American leader of the free world.  To many, this was an indication that racism was over, that the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been realized.  The truth is that the journey has just begun.  Though President Obama has accomplished many of his goals during the past twelve months, this nation faces numerous challenges on domestic and international issues that are becoming increasingly difficult because of political partisanship. 

The efforts of community leaders and activists during the 50s and 60s that resulted in the Civil Rights Act echo today as their work focused not only on the civil rights of every American citizen, but the human rights of every man, woman and child across the face of the globe.  The United States of America is not only a leader on international and economic affairs, but it is a leader and an example on cultural trends and societal norms.  Nations around the world have set and changed governmental policies based on American standards.  Research shows that America exports not only goods but ideas. 

The international community has welcomed the presidency of Barack Obama, recognizing the global impact of his election to office by awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize, citing the fact that President Obama has done something that others were unable to do…bring hope to the rest of the world.  Ironically, the love fest hasn’t translated domestically.  Right wing supporters have continued their campaign against Barack Obama as if Election 2008 never happened.  The vitriol expressed during anti-healthcare reform demonstrations and the “Tea Party” demonstrations against taxes showed the nation and the world the underlying truth about America.  This country has a long way to go and racism is alive and well.  Though republican pundits and politicians maintain that race has nothing to do with their protests and demonstrations, rally participants carrying posters with the president in minstrel makeup, holding up nooses, marching with life-sized effigies of the president hanging from a noose, brandishing weapons, and more were all reminiscent of the hateful crowds that lined the streets when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other community leaders led peaceful marches in support of civil rights.

As we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we remember the humanitarian aspect of his work which has inspired millions of people around the world to march peacefully against tyranny and oppression.  We must remember our obligation to our fellow man as we support President Obama in his effort to provide healthcare to the millions of Americans that have little or no access to medical attention and dental care.  We must remember our obligation to the impoverished and destitute not only abroad in 3^rd world nations but right next door, down the street, or across town.  We must remember our obligation to the faceless, nameless, voiceless people who are exploited and victimized because of greed and cruelty.  The truth is that as we sit to our tables and eat warm, nourishing meals; take hot showers; retire to soft and comfortable beds in the safety of our homes, there are children going to bed hungry.  There are people succumbing to preventable disease.  There are adults working an extra shift because of their dire economic status.  There are people making difficult choices.

Change is a complicated.  President Obama challenged America to assist him in ushering in change not only in Washington, D.C., but across the nation and then the world.  It begins when we realize that each individual, no matter their socio-economic, has the capacity to make a difference.  That was the message that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave us and it is the beginning of the path that President Obama leads us on.

-Karen Rowe Gilliland

DECEMBER 15th-JANUARY 15th 2010

HIV/AIDS – Continued Epidemic for the African-American Community

On December 1, 2009, World Aids Day came and went without much of a place in the national news media headlines despite the fact that more than 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 1.2 million Americans are living with the disease, and every 9 ½ minutes, someone in the United States is infected.  A disconcerting truth is that the Black community continues to be disproportionately affected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest report notes that, although African-Americans make up only 12% of the population, they are 46% of current cases and 45% of those cases newly diagnosed.  Women make up 26% of all cases.  Of that number African-American women are more than 50%, and 19 times more likely to contract the disease than white women.  Locally, the Arizona Department of Health Services states in its most recent report that more than 13,000 Arizonans are living with HIV/AIDS, and 1,500 of those cases are African-American.

According to a report released by WHO, studies show that undiagnosed infection results in transmission and increases the potential of mortality among people living with HIV. Approximately 70% of new infections in the United States are the result of people unaware that they are HIV-positive.  In an effort to reverse the trend and promote testing the President and First Lady underwent HIV tests on National HIV Testing day in June of this year.  The Obama Administration, in and effort to work with the international community on combating the epidemic announced the end of a 22-year ban on travel to the United States by people who had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS.  In his World Aids Day Proclamation, the President stated that his administration is developing a national HIV/AIDS strategy to bolster their response to the domestic epidemic, and a global health initiative. President Obama stated that he “will develop a strategy to reduce HIV incidence, improve access to care, and help eliminate HIV-related health disparities.”