Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Today marks the 10th annual National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, "a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at Blacks in the United States and the Diaspora." As the epidemic continues to hit closer to home, there has never been a louder call to action for Black women to create awareness about HIV/AIDS. Although African Americans make up 12% of the population, we continue to have one of the highest proportion of HIV/AIDS cases each year (an estimated 61%). There are many way we can help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, the first being to educate ourselves. There are many events taking place around the country today. Here's what you can do:

• Get Tested: call 1-800-CDC-INFO, visit hivtest.org or text your zip code to "Know IT." (566948).
• Visit blackaidsday.org for a comprehensive list of events around the country
• Educate yourself and your family about the facts of HIV/AIDS by visiting CDC
• Listen to a podcast on HIV/AIDS in the African American community and steps you can take to help stop the spread of the epidemic, here.

Read More from ESSENCE.com:

• Greatest Risk for Contracting HIV May Surprise You
• Marvelyn Brown is HIV Positive and Greater than AIDS
• Breaking the Deadly Cycle of HIV/AIDS 
• Celebs who are creating awareness around HIV/AIDS
• HIV Activist Annette Owens shares her story