• Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Commentary: Talking AIDS Is Greater Than Silence

Last month, I had the honor of opening the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS for a large Cincinnati church. During my conversation with the congregation, I encouraged them to consider two questions regarding the AIDS epidemic in Black communities: 1) What would Jesus do? 2) How would He guide us as people of faith? Throughout the New Testament, Jesus clearly describes how to treat people who are ill, suffering, outcast or stigmatized. In Matthew 25, we find this text: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me..." Read More: Marvelyn Brown Is HIV Positive and Greater Than AIDSBreaking The Deadly Cycle Of HIV Among Black Youth Take our survey: What do you know about HIV and AIDS?
By Phill Wilson · Updated October 29, 2020
Phill_Wilson.jpg
ESSENCEcom_Greater_Than_promo_button_plum.JPG
Phill Wilson is the President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. Here, he states his vision of how we as a community can lessen the danger of AIDS for Black men and women. Last month, I had the honor of opening the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS for a large Cincinnati church. During my conversation with the congregation, I encouraged them to consider two questions regarding the AIDS epidemic in Black communities: 1) What would Jesus do? 2) How would He guide us as people of faith? Throughout the New Testament, Jesus clearly describes how to treat people who are ill, suffering, outcast or stigmatized. In Matthew 25 we find this text: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Only loving God supersedes Christ’s instruction to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This direction is the key to living an ethical, righteous life in accord with His teachings. Jesus’ life describes unequivocally how Christians should address HIV/AIDS. Christ would not only confront the epidemic by speaking out against stigma and discrimination, He would instruct us to embrace those with the disease, teach people how to protect themselves and tell us to advocate for the sick to receive appropriate care and treatment. Talking is greater than silence. I closed by asking congregants who were infected, affected, or who knew someone who was living with or had died from HIV/AIDS to stand. The minister, the first lady of the church and nearly the entire congregation stood. I approached those still seated, introduced myself, disclosed that I have been infected with HIV for 30 years and asked them to stand up with their church because now they too–like nearly 50% of Black Americans–know someone with HIV/AIDS. Last week I received a letter from a woman in attendance that Sunday. A member of her family had recently tested positive; the family had stayed silent, ashamed to disclose this to anyone. However, experiencing most of the church stand up as “infected and affected” helped them to tell several members of their faith family. Talking is greater than silence because it allows us to receive needed love, help and assistance; it also liberates us and gives others the opportunity to live up to Jesus’ commandment. There are also practical benefits. Whether or not you are HIV-positive, raise the topic of HIV with your doctor whether or not your doctor raises it with you. Discuss your sexual and drug-using behavior so your doctor can assess your risk factors and you learn what to change, as necessary. Uncertain of your HIV status? Gain the peace of mind of knowing–knowing is greater than doubt. In the event that you’re HIV-positive, communicating with your doctor will help you access appropriate care that can dramatically extend and enhance your life. Talking to your family and loved ones is especially important. As the Cincinnati family experienced, when one member gets HIV/AIDS, we all get HIV/AIDS–not because we become infected; HIV is not transmitted through casual contact, so drinking from the same glass, sharing eating utensils, hugging and kissing do not put you at risk–but because the family may carry the stigma and shame. Any loss of income can destabilize the family, and unforeseen medical and other expenses can occur. Yet Black families have a long tradition of surviving challenges. Those who weather them successfully do so because they talk to each other, care for each other and love each other. Talking is greater than silence. And Black families are greater than AIDS. Phill Wilson is President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. Read More:
  • Marvelyn Brown Is HIV Positive and Greater Than AIDS
  • Breaking The Deadly Cycle Of HIV Among Black Youth
  • Take our survey: What do you know about HIV and AIDS?
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now