For nearly 20 years, the Rev. George McRae, has been fighting an unpopular battle: helping people who suffer from AIDS."AIDS is not a homosexual problem -- it is a black problem," says McRae, pastor of Liberty City's Mount Tabor Baptist Church.
Since AIDS -- known on the inner-city streets as the Ninja -- has become a top killer among blacks, McRae for years has been repeating the same plea: It is time that the black church assumes its leadership role and fights the syndrome that is snatching up a disproportionate number of black lives.
Now McRae, the progressive 63-year-old church leader, continues to spread his message to all who will listen: Stop AIDS from killing more black people.
In Miami-Dade County, although blacks make up 22 percent of the population, they make up 54 percent of the 26,169 AIDS cases reported since data has been collected. Miami-Dade County outranks 40 states in the total number of reported HIV/AIDS cases.
That is why 12 years ago, McRae formed the nonprofit center called Minorities Overcoming the Virus through Education, or MOVERS, an arm of Mount Tabor's AIDS ministry that promotes AIDS prevention and counsels those who are HIV-positive.
McRae has made fighting AIDS his top mission. And it is fitting that he does so, he says. For every problem that blacks have faced in America -- be it racism or education -- the black church has been the refuge people turn to to lift their spirits.
But AIDS has remained taboo for most leaders in the black church, who have been slow to discuss preventive measures and shy to embrace those who are inflicted by it.
"We don't talk about sex," McRae said. "For theological beliefs, it's kind of a no-man's land in the black church. But that is not going to prevent me from showing compassion or love to anybody."
Showing compassion is how McRae changed the life of Petera Johnson, a former drug addict who tried to kill herself when she discovered she was HIV-positive.
The Liberty City native, who now lives in North Miami Beach, ended up at a substance abuse meeting at Mount Tabor, 1701 NW 66th St. That's when she met McRae, a small-framed man with a deep, forceful voice. "He gave me a hug," said Johnson, 40. "Here I am feeling shame and guilt, and I couldn't even hug myself. He came down to our level."
McRae has had to overcome battles of his own. When he graduated from high school, he had a football scholarship to Florida A&M University, but he shattered his knee in summer training and lost his hope of ever becoming a professional football player. "I was so angry, I even stopped talking to God," said McRae, who has been married to Mary McRae for 48 years. "That had been my only dream."
Just last week, a groundbreaking study by Florida Department of Health found that one in every 22 men who had sex with other men in Florida were HIV positive last year. Further, the study found that one in 12 black men, one in 18 Latino men and one in 20 Native American or mixed ethnic men were HIV positive.
DOH Senior epidemiologist, Spencer Lieb, said the report is meant to serve as a “wake up call” at a time when the public is becoming complacent about the realities of HIV.
Black churches such as Rev. McRae's are in a better position to reach Black Floridians than Health Departments and others who are considered outsiders. They have a built in captive audience.
In observance of World AIDS Day, tomorrow, we decided to go off topic to help keep you informed.
Churches should teach the Bible.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible teaches that sexual relations outside of a marriage between a man and a woman are wrong.
Safe sex (and the most fulfilling sex) is sex with your wife.
Unfortounately, many pastors would have to admit that they do not live up to this Biblical standard.
God help us all.
The Bible also says love the sinner, not the sin!
ReplyDeletePeople are dying. I applaud Rev. McRae and his church for this effort!
Honestly, I think that this is a necessary step. HIV is affecting Black Americans at a ridiculous rate. The church (collectively) seems to have a gag order on discussing this disease. As a cornerstone of the community, that really needs to change.
ReplyDeleteWhat greater love than to warn people before they make self destructive decisions? The vast majority of HIV is caused by promiscuity and drugs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a problem that is ultimately solved by changing behaviors, not by preforming hospice.
God's laws are for our protection - and for the betterment of our society and our race (human race).
We should preach purity always, and I agree that we should minister to the wounded - even if the wounds are self-inflicted.
Care for the dying, but teach the non-dying to avoid playing life and death games.
2:17, While I agree that churches "should teach the Bible," I think the church has to also address some of the contemporary issues that facing people today. And one of those issues is AIDS and all of the associate issues that come with it. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand any more and say that "this person should do this," or "that person should do that." AIDS affects our community like none other, and we must reach out in whatever venue we can, whether it is through the institution of the church or the academic institution or the institutions of health. How do you suggest we go about addressing this epidemic? By not doing anything and wishing everything would simply vanish into thin air?
ReplyDeleteIs he a alumnus? If not, why this particular article? Nurattler you are losing it bro man.
ReplyDeleteI wished DaRattler didn't leave us.
^^^^
ReplyDeleteApparently you aren't along time reader of RN, last year DaRattler brought us these kind of message the entire week leading up to World AIDS Day.
10:47 PM, please ignore the chatter in the background.
ReplyDeleteBig ups to Rev. McRae! I had the pleasure of helping to establish one of the 12 step substance abuse meetings (Nooncomers) that are held today at Rev. McRae's church. That meeting originally started during the mid-nineties at Hadley Park in Liberty City.