15 years ago, this year, Magic Johnson shocked the world and the NBA with his annoucement that he was HIV positive. Today on the 19th observance of World AIDS Day, the Magic Johnson Foundation is launching an ambitious nationwide campaign to "end Black HIV/AIDS," setting an initial goal of halving the infection rate by 2011.
See: AIDS campaign aimed at minorities
The MJ Foundation has also launched a new website I Stand With Magic
With the face of HIV/AIDS increasingly becoming black/brown, AIDS Activisit Phill Wilson had this to say, "If these were white college students with 50% infection rates, this would be on the news every night. But it's poor black men and women so nobody cares."
Fortunately, FAMU students understand this. Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of reported AIDS case.
HIV and AIDS is the leading cause of death among black men and women, according to the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of HIV/AIDS. FAMU marks World AIDS Day