A great deal of research on the topic of Tuskegee focused on the distrust of African Americans towards the medical community, fearing that any research study or treatment program could potentially turn into another Tuskegee experiment. What I found most interesting was the relation of the experiment to the AIDS epidemic. At first, I was shocked by this connection: how could anyone believe that the AIDS virus was manufactured solely to wipe out a specific group of people?
I read an article by Dr. Kwame Nantambu, who is a professor at Kent State University. To me, I was in disbelief that this man could so heavily believe that AIDS was a manufactured. However, I began to look up his sources and read those articles, and I found just how deeply rooted the fears of the African American community are concerning HIV/AIDS. After the Tuskegee experiment, there have been a multitude of surveys and studies to gauge how African Americans feel about medicine, medical practice, and how much they will allow themselves to be involved. The studies all cite the Tuskegee experiment as being the root of the fears, the experiment that the participants cite as making them fearful to ever get involved in another study. It also speaks to the lack of knowledge on the situation; because of this, there is more fear and doubt. If the true facts were understood, some qualms could be quieted.
--impact on health care
I read an article by Dr. Kwame Nantambu, who is a professor at Kent State University. To me, I was in disbelief that this man could so heavily believe that AIDS was a manufactured. However, I began to look up his sources and read those articles, and I found just how deeply rooted the fears of the African American community are concerning HIV/AIDS. After the Tuskegee experiment, there have been a multitude of surveys and studies to gauge how African Americans feel about medicine, medical practice, and how much they will allow themselves to be involved. The studies all cite the Tuskegee experiment as being the root of the fears, the experiment that the participants cite as making them fearful to ever get involved in another study. It also speaks to the lack of knowledge on the situation; because of this, there is more fear and doubt. If the true facts were understood, some qualms could be quieted.
--impact on health care
In 2012, Reverend Jeremiah Wright did a press conference to confirm and establish his previous stated beliefs (in his sermons) that AIDS/HIV is a genocide, a virus created by the government to get rid of the blacks. He cites Dr. Leonard Horowitz and his book Emerging Viruses to further prove the theory. Horowitz was very happy and supportive of Wright, claiming, "Wright has brought the media's attention to neglected evidence and evaded science that proves U.S government agents, collaborating with the drug industry, created AIDS in more ways than one, and for more reasons than profit." They make claims using Tuskegee as one of the examples, stating that it happened once and can now happen again. While it is quite clear that HIV/AIDS is not a manufactured virus, and the epidemic has decreased a little since these talks, the idea and the conspiracy theory is still out there. Many people stand by these beliefs because they have seen the suffering and discrimination towards African Americans before, so why can't it happen again? The video below talks about Wright and Horowitz and is a very interesting take, getting into the logistics of why they think the way they do.
Many people point to the Tuskegee study for the true explanation as to why they believe in genocides of African Americans in America, specifically using HIV/AIDS to wipe them out. There are a couple reasons why this is possible, pointing to the fears and fictions that people believe about the Tuskegee experiment. One is that many believe that the men in the study were actually injected with syphilis. This is not just thought but blacks, but also whites. The idea is wide spread that the men were intentionally injected with syphilis in order to kill the men and examine the effects closer. This is in fact not true; all men who participated already were infected with the disease. While this seems like a ridiculous belief to have, it shows just how deeply rooted their theories and beliefs are. These fears have been so thoroughly established because of the racism showed to the African Americans through the medical research in the past. It is extremely hard to just forget about all the hardships and pain they had to suffer, being guinea pigs for the white community.
Another effect that Tuskegee has had in relation to HIV/AIDs is issues in the health care community when it comes to risk programs and education awareness. Health professionals shy away from addressing the Tuskegee issue or the fact that many people believe in a genocide wave. Instead of ignoring it, it should be more openly addressed and that way, African Americans would feel more comfortable in the medical setting. HIV and AIDs programs were originally completely dismissed by the African American community. They refused to participate in AZT trials or educational programs; they wanted to have no part in the research. Things like needle-exchange programs also completely terrified the community rather than made them feel more safe. All these aspects point to a larger issue at hand. If the black community believes AIDS/HIV was (or is) another form of 'genocide' against them, they will never be able to form a healthy relationship with the medical community.
Another effect that Tuskegee has had in relation to HIV/AIDs is issues in the health care community when it comes to risk programs and education awareness. Health professionals shy away from addressing the Tuskegee issue or the fact that many people believe in a genocide wave. Instead of ignoring it, it should be more openly addressed and that way, African Americans would feel more comfortable in the medical setting. HIV and AIDs programs were originally completely dismissed by the African American community. They refused to participate in AZT trials or educational programs; they wanted to have no part in the research. Things like needle-exchange programs also completely terrified the community rather than made them feel more safe. All these aspects point to a larger issue at hand. If the black community believes AIDS/HIV was (or is) another form of 'genocide' against them, they will never be able to form a healthy relationship with the medical community.
http://www.trinicenter.com/kwame/2001/nov/152001.htm
http://chpe.creighton.edu/events/images/gamble.pdf
http://www.waronwethepeople.com/politics/rev-jeremiah-wright-barack-obama-controversy-hiv-aids-political-genocide/
http://newsone.com/2026978/black-urban-legends-hiv-aids/
http://chpe.creighton.edu/events/images/gamble.pdf
http://www.waronwethepeople.com/politics/rev-jeremiah-wright-barack-obama-controversy-hiv-aids-political-genocide/
http://newsone.com/2026978/black-urban-legends-hiv-aids/