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Strength
+ Passion
Education + Information Love, Understanding & Hope Not in My Family: Aids in the African American Community Black America Speaks for Itself to Fight the AIDS Epidemic Coming December 1st from Agate Fine Books www.agatepublishing.com |
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I highly recommend Gil Robertsons new project, Not in MY Family: African American Families Break Their Silence About Living with HIV and AIDS. Given the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS within the black community, this is a timely, urgent and long overdue story. I look forward to sharing Not in My Family with ESSENCE readers when it is ready for publication. -Patrik Henry Bass - Books Editor - Essence Magazine |
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Overview
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Much has been made of the statistics surrounding African Americans and HIV/AIDS; however, somehow the human face of this disease still eludes our community. Like many situations confronting the African American community, dialogue about this disease has failed to include meaningful communication with those directly involved. Not in My Family began as an opportunity for my brother and I to share our family's experiences in living with him through his journey with HIV/AIDS, however, it soon evolved into a vehicle that explores a wide cross-section of ideas, values and beliefs. Many of the contributors to this book are famous, but most are not, however, with every essay they all demonstrate their commitment to the community; offering invaluable insights on the joys, pains, triumphs, fears and love that people living with HIV/AIDS and their families deal with everyday. Not in My Family is the resulting effort. It is a patchwork of essays that forms a quilt of expressions by individuals who have chosen to come out of the shadows to bare their fears, isolation and pain of living in the age of AIDS. Not in My Family is revealing and sometimes shocking, but the sentiments expressed very clearly related how HIV/AIDS has reshaped lifestyles and attitudes within our community. Not in My Family will provide lessons in courage and pearls of wisdom and inspiration. It will also present an opportunity for families both immediate and extended--to gain the courage to move forward with their lives, dealing openly and honestly about their feelings for each other in sickness and health. Watching someone you love die is a very difficult thing. To witness a loved ones transition with HIV/AIDS is even more so because this disease creates an environment that leaves many families with few resources or options for support. Underneath such pressure, some families can fall apart. Fortunately, Not In My Family demonstrates that our community recognizes the need to face this scourge head on. This book will have long term and far reaching impact on our community and will raise awareness to sectors of our community who need it the most. My hope is that Not in My Family will offer a forum of expression for discovery and healing. It is a wake up call for the black community and larger society to realize that HIV/AIDS is not something we can run away from. It's a reality that we must face, deal with and conquer. AIDS is not only in my family? it's in all of ours! - Gil L. Robertson IV |
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