YOUR BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT WHAT ELSE IS IT?

I posed the question to my friends on Facebook, Twitter, and BGC; and I received a diverse array of responses. Here are some of the responses,

The responses:

“My black is PROUD!” – Sincerelyric

“My black is intelligent, inquisitive, critical, perceptive, humorous, thoughtful.” – Thetrudz

“My black is Artistic.” – BOOMJones

“My black is innovative and Intelligent.” – FemmeFatale Harris

“My black is resilient, strong, and unforgettable.” - Bright_Eyzx3

“My Black is storied.” – TheKabosh

“My black is creative…motivated..my black is a combination of many colors on a palette. My black is bold and has a voice…” – Cakezilla

“My black is bold and inspiring!” – srtyrck

“My black is bold, daring, humble, proud, courageous, & captivating.” - drniaimani

“My black is ancestrial, authentic, and metaphysical.” – Lifted_Truth

“My black is… undefinable, ever evolving, all encompassing, everlasting.” – UrFavCharity

“My black is loving, understanding, hopeful, free.” – LoveMrsBrenda

“My black is intellectually open.” – dreamphilosophy

“My black is aloof, passionate, sometimes egotistical, scientific, driven, going-somewhere-but-haven’t-quite-figured-it-out-yet.” J. Silver

“My Black is enduring.” – rebelsin

“My black is determined…Strong…Loving overall….sometimes militant.” – 25lighters

“My black is passionate, determined, intuitive, intellectual, and focused.” – _black_majik_x_

“My black is absolute, knowledgeable, mysterious, infinite.” – SonofBaldwin

BRAGGING ABOUT YOUR NEGATIVE HIV/STD STATUS

I recently got my STD results back, and they all came back negative. Usually I would proudly proclaim my negative status, and even post a picture of my negative test results online. However, this time I felt different about the act. For a while now I have been torn on whether or not the bragging/boasting about being STD/HIV negative is an insult to those people who are positive.

I want to be sensitive to everyone’s path in life and I don’t want to alienate people who are positive and make them feel sad or depressed about their status. I think a lot of reason why people aren’t vocal about being positive is because we make it seem like the worst thing to ever happen in the history of the world. Your life isn’t over because you are positive, there are steps you can take to live a healthy life, such as taking your medicine and living holistically.

So, what do you think about people bragging and boasting about their negative status? Is it insensitive to the lives of those who are positive? Does it make it seem like being negative is good and being positive is bad and something to be ashamed of?

I think everyone should be proud of getting tested and knowing their status, but whether you’re negative or positive, you are still human and should feel secure in who you are.

KNOWING THE RISK VS IGNORING THE RISK

In 2010 it’s generally assumed that most people have had exposure to some form of STD/HIV awareness. We were born into a generation where condoms were supposedly the norm. Children born in the 80′s and decades there after were supposed to be educated and inundated about HIV/AIDS. We were supposed to know that HIV was spread through bodily fluids and that unprotected sex greatly increased your chance of acquiring STD’s and HIV.

Is is safe to say that we know the risks associated with unprotected?

Do we know the risks and do we simply ignore them to suit our own human urges and desires?

How many of us continue to engage in unprotected oral and anal sex despite knowing the risks associated with them?

What can be done to increase the efficacy of STD awareness initiatives?

Is HIV/AIDS a virus/disease that thrives on the elements of poverty, lack of education, and the deeply religious?

For those who are living with STD’s did you know the risks but ignored them?

For those who are sexually active do you know the risks and continue to ignore them?

Is anyone 100% safe in their sex lives?

Is monogamy the answer?

There are many questions and much to discuss so let’s have at it.