Challenging the Conventional Stance on AIDS

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Challenging the Conventional Stance on AIDS

New York Times (12/22/98) P. D6
France, David

Conspiracy theories about HIV still abound despite a wealth of available scientific evidence. Recently, the Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network sponsored the Harlem AIDS Forum, which featured many outspoken opponents to traditional views on HIV and AIDS. Of approximately 12 speakers, only one believed that HIV is the cause of AIDS, but he also argued that the virus was being spread to people of color throughout the world through World Health Organization via its vaccine programs. Event organizer Curtis Cost explained that the objective of the meeting "was to allow people to hear disparate perspectives, and to do their own research." According to a survey conducted by the Institute of Minority Health Research at Emory University's Rollins School of Health, 74 percent of African-Americans questioned believed they were very likely or somewhat likely to be used as test subjects for studies without their consent. Eighteen percent reported that they believe that HIV was an engineered virus and almost 10 percent said that AIDS is part of a genocidal plot to kill black people. The AIDS epidemic has been particularly prevalent in the African-American community; although African-Americans comprise only 13 percent of the United State's total population, they accounted for 57 percent of new infections last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some AIDS activists among the community disapprove of the conspiracy theories, asserting that they serve to subvert prevention efforts such as testing and safe sex.

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