Black Women studies
Today I took my first exam of my junior year for Women Studies 103. Although there were about 50 questions on the exam, only one
really stood out to me. I was asked to list three facts regarding women’s health issues.
I wrote three facts about Black women and AIDS disparities.
There are myriad numbers reported and it can be overwhelming to attempt to process them all. Despite the many variations of numbers,
they all show that Black women are one of the highest growing demographics of new HIV cases. In fact, the leading cause of death for young,
attractive Black women ages 25-34 is HIV/AIDS (Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
These and other statistics alike really take me aback. One may question, just as my exam did, what importance do I find in this health
disparity?
Allow me to digress. About three years ago, a close family member of mine died of AIDS. I cannot speak for all Black families, but in
mine, we carry the Black tradition of accepting non-blood friends as extended kin and my auntie (really the sister of my mama’s best friend)
passed on as a result of AIDS.
What makes these health statistics even more outstanding in my clouded conscience is that my only sister, the second youngest in my
family of six children and single-parent mother, is growing older. She’s now 14 and just started high school in the Milwaukee Public School
system. Her, my mother and my grandmother and my women peers are highly subject to be one of the many Black women who get infected
with HIV/AIDS. I pray for their safety and health in that they don’t fall victim to rape, sexual dependency or a host of other factors that can
result in their infection.
Women are the most precious gift God blessed this planet with. Women have reared me all my life and to take Women’s Studies 103, my
sense of awareness about women’s health and diseases has become more keen. Before taking this class, I was conscious about women’s
health topics.What I endeavor to do with what I know is exercise temperance, sensitivity and curiosity in regards to women’s health and social
concerns. As a society, we tend to forget that each of us has a mother.
We all owe it to ourselves, each other and the flourishment of humankind to take personal responsibility for decreasing with aims of
eliminating the causes of such high rates of Black women becoming infected with HIV. Let’s not stop at Women’s Studies 103 ... and that’s
Like it t.i. IS!
Martinez White is a junior at UW-Madison & Host of 91. 7 WSUM’s Late Night With M.White, Thurs. 10-11 p.m. latenightwithmwhite@yahoo.com
really stood out to me. I was asked to list three facts regarding women’s health issues.
I wrote three facts about Black women and AIDS disparities.
There are myriad numbers reported and it can be overwhelming to attempt to process them all. Despite the many variations of numbers,
they all show that Black women are one of the highest growing demographics of new HIV cases. In fact, the leading cause of death for young,
attractive Black women ages 25-34 is HIV/AIDS (Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
These and other statistics alike really take me aback. One may question, just as my exam did, what importance do I find in this health
disparity?
Allow me to digress. About three years ago, a close family member of mine died of AIDS. I cannot speak for all Black families, but in
mine, we carry the Black tradition of accepting non-blood friends as extended kin and my auntie (really the sister of my mama’s best friend)
passed on as a result of AIDS.
What makes these health statistics even more outstanding in my clouded conscience is that my only sister, the second youngest in my
family of six children and single-parent mother, is growing older. She’s now 14 and just started high school in the Milwaukee Public School
system. Her, my mother and my grandmother and my women peers are highly subject to be one of the many Black women who get infected
with HIV/AIDS. I pray for their safety and health in that they don’t fall victim to rape, sexual dependency or a host of other factors that can
result in their infection.
Women are the most precious gift God blessed this planet with. Women have reared me all my life and to take Women’s Studies 103, my
sense of awareness about women’s health and diseases has become more keen. Before taking this class, I was conscious about women’s
health topics.What I endeavor to do with what I know is exercise temperance, sensitivity and curiosity in regards to women’s health and social
concerns. As a society, we tend to forget that each of us has a mother.
We all owe it to ourselves, each other and the flourishment of humankind to take personal responsibility for decreasing with aims of
eliminating the causes of such high rates of Black women becoming infected with HIV. Let’s not stop at Women’s Studies 103 ... and that’s
Like it t.i. IS!
Martinez White is a junior at UW-Madison & Host of 91. 7 WSUM’s Late Night With M.White, Thurs. 10-11 p.m. latenightwithmwhite@yahoo.com
