Markeshia Powe |
Name: Markeshia Powe
School: Tougaloo College Major: Sociology Mentor: Dr. Ross Haenfler Expected Graduation Date: May 2008 Organizations & Honors:
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ABSTRACT
The New Face of AIDS: A comparative look at HIV/AIDS awareness among African-American women at historically black colleges and universities and traditionally white institutions
| “AIDS is killing us….Our community, our women, our men, our children, our families, our futures” (Daniel 1996:13). HIV/AIDS has taken a toll on the African-American community. Black women are currently at an increasingly high risk, accounting for over 64% of HIV/AIDS cases among women (CDC 2005). In fact, AIDS is the leading cause of death for African-American women between the ages of 25-34 (Anderson & Smith 2003). Still, although there are many studies conducted regarding HIV/AIDS, few focus on African-American women on college campuses. |
| Many African-American women are likely to be infected while in college. For this reason, there is a dire need for these women to be effectively educated and get a thorough understanding of this disease. Using interviews with African American women from both historically black colleges and universities and traditionally white institutions, this paper explores the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, women’s experiences with education/prevention programs, and how such programs may be improved. |