The African Americans bookstore features books on HIV/AIDS for and by African Americans. Books are listed in alphabetical order by title. Click the title to read more about each book. Missing your favorite book? Click here to send us your recommendations.
- African Americans and HIV/AIDS: Understanding and Eliminating this Epidemic
- African American Women and HIV/AIDS: Critical Responses
- Dangerous Intimacy: Ten African American Men with HIV
- Living with AIDS/HIV: The African American’s Guide to Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community
- The Secret Epidemic: The Story of AIDS and Black America
African Americans and HIV/AIDS: Understanding and Eliminating this Epidemic
by Donna Hubbard McCree, Kenneth Terrill Jones and Ann O’Leary
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is burgeoning among African American men and women. Despite comprising only 13 percent of the population, 50 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2004 were among African Americans. Among women and men who have sex with men (MSM), African Americans are grossly disproportionately affected by this epidemic, and this trend shows no sign of abating. This book seeks to explore some of the contextual factors that contribute to this disparity as well as ways to intervene to slow the growth of the epidemic in the U.S.
African American Women and HIV/AIDS: Critical Responses
by Dorie J. Gilbert and Ednita M. Wright
Gathering the collective wisdom of scholars, researchers, and social work professionals, this volume addresses the specific needs of the most disenfranchised-and least accurately represented-population impacted by AIDS.
Dangerous Intimacy: Ten African American Men with HIV
by Christopher Coleman and Christopher Brooks
In Dangerous Intimacy, Christopher Brooks and Christopher Coleman offer a collection of unscripted autobiographies of 10 African American men, who are living with HIV. They have captured aspects of their lives from childhood on, illustrating the factors contributing to their becoming HIV positive. They also sought to have the reader hear the stories in their words, as they were told to them. More than 20 men in different parts of the country were interviewed, with 10 stories being selected. To preserve their anonymity, identities and geographical locations have been disguised. Dangerous Intimacy underlines two issues. First, it is time to recognize that HIV/AIDS is present, and growing, in the African American community. Second, we need to understand that a diagnosis of HIV is not a death sentence. All of the men whose stories are told has managed or handled the virus and is living a full life. Each story is unique, yet all share a common experience. They are African American and live with HIV/AIDS. The stories told in Dangerous Intimacy are a sobering reminder of the dangers of intimacy, unprotected sex, and uncontrolled and sometimes reckless behavior. Some readers will find them disturbing, even shocking. Others will see the struggle to overcome HIV and transform lives, inspiring. The men represent a rich diversity of the African American experience. One is a grandfather who grew up in segregated Chicago; another is a Vietnam veteran. Others are fathers, married and single. They participated in this undertaking because they want us to hear their voices. Roque Florio captures the book’s soul. He said, “I wanted to write my own book before I die, but I believe this may be the closest that I will come to doing so, I don t fret about it though. If my story will help somebody, then my living will not have been in vain.”
Living with AIDS/HIV: The African American’s Guide to Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
by Eric Goosby MD and Adrianne Appel
Since 1991, HIV infection has been the leading cause of death among black men 25-44 years old. About 62 percent of women and children with AIDS are black. Experts agree that for the person infected with HIV/AIDS, good medical care and good self-care mean a longer life and a higher quality life. This book explains how to get the medical care; understand symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment; take medication as prescribed; practice good nutrition, exercise, and rest; find social workers and support groups; and pay medical bills.
Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community
by Gil L. Robertson
In this landmark collection of personal essays, stories, brief memoirs, and polemics, a broad swath of black Americans unite to bear witness to the devastation AIDS has wrought on their community. Not in My Family marks a new willingness on the part of black Americans—whether prominent figures from the worlds of politics, entertainment, or sports, or just ordinary folks with extraordinary stories — to face the scourge that has affected them disproportionately for years. Editor Gil Robertson has enlisted a remarkable group of contributors, including performers like Patti LaBelle, Mo’Nique, and Hill Harper; bestselling authors like Randall Robinson and Omar Tyree; political leaders like Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders; religious leaders like Rev. Calvin Butts, and many, many more.
The Secret Epidemic: The Story of AIDS and Black America
by Jacob Levenson
Investigative journalist Levenson explores the social and political aspects of the continuing AIDS epidemic among African Americans in the United States by weaving together the stories of AIDS patients, grassroots activists struggling to get the government to address the plague, medical researchers, social workers, politicians. Along the way he visits issues of class and race, the role of the Black church, and the unresponsiveness of government (including black leadership) to the needs of the black poor.
