The CBS' "Evening News"on Thursday examined HIV/AIDS among blacks living in the U.S. According to CDC, blacks accounted for 49% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2006, despite making up only 13% of the population. In addition, 69% of AIDS cases among those ages 13 to 19 and 56% among those ages 20 to 24 are black, the "Evening News" reports." According to the "Evening News," many advocates are saying that presidential candidates Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) are not doing enough to address HIV/AIDS. In addition, many advocates are upset that the candidates have said more about addressing HIV/AIDS in Africa, rather than in the black community in the U.S. Is HIV/AIDS in the US too controversial for our presidential candidates to address. Or is it the 'Dick Cheney phenomenon' -remember during the vice presidential debates where he actually said that he was unaware of the rates of HIV in Black women! What is clear to me is that, if we don't put pressure on not just the presidential candidates, but all politicians to address HIV/AIDS, it will never be a political priority.
Visit: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4291857n
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