The Black Diaspora in the US A State of Being
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Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012 www.aids2012.org The Black Diaspora in the US A State of Being Vanessa Johnson, JD United States US Positive Women’s Network
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The Black Diaspora in the US A State of Being. Vanessa Johnson, JD United States US Positive Women’s Network. Who are we and where do we live?. United States The US has a total resident population of 313.4M (2010) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of The Black Diaspora in the US A State of Being
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
The Black Diaspora in the USA State of Being
Vanessa Johnson, JDUnited States
US Positive Women’s Network
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
Who are we and where do we live?
• United States– The US has a total resident population of
313.4M (2010)• There are an estimated 40 million
people of African descent living in the US. – African Americans comprised 12.1 percent of the
total population in the United States, constituting the largest racial minority group.
– African immigrants represent 6 percent of all immigrants to the US States and almost 5 percent of the African American community nationwide.
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
What has been the impact of incarceration?
• World’s #1 destination for incarceration– The US makes up 5% of the world’s population but
has 25% (2.5M) of the world’s prison population and 5M under parole or (community) supervision (2011)
• The impact on people of African descent– Black men make up 40.2 percent of all prison inmates
(2008). • For Black males in their twenties, 1 in every 8 is in
prison or jail on any given day (2011)– Black women account for 32.6% of incarcerated
women (2008)
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
What happens when the culture of criminalization, stigma and HIV collide?
• In communities in which incarceration rates are high, HIV rates are also high.– Community: Social determinants such a
poverty, education, employment, access to health services, and HI-related stigma dictate level of HIV in black communities
– Former inmates: Social (stigma), economic (no job) and political (no vote) isolation
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
The New Jim Crow
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
What happens when the culture of criminalization, stigma and HIV collide?
• HIV criminalization laws for nondisclosure and transmission of HIV.
• Carrying protective paraphernalia (i.e. condoms and needles):– Impact on street workers protecting
themselves– Impact on syringe users
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
US HIV Criminalization Laws
• 37 states and territories have some version, including sentence enhancement.
• Typical elements Person being charged knows that s/he is HIV-
positive. Typically, actual transmission is unnecessary;
exposure without disclosure is enough. Some laws: disclosure and proof of consent is
defense; however, low viral load not a factor. Some laws punish no-risk contact
Spitting, biting, and scratching
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
What is the Community Doing?• Executive Order
– National HIV/AIDS Strategy• Legislation
– The REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act (2011)– The Stop AIDS in Prison Act (2011)– The JUSTICE Act (2011)– Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (2008)
• Advocacy– Positive Justice Project– SERO
Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org
Want to contact me?
Vanessa Johnson, JDPrincipal and Owner
Just Cause Consulting, LLC604 9th Street NE, Lower Level
Washington, DC [email protected]
301-768-2852
