The Fear of Black HIV in the South

Go on a journey with Anna DeShawn to explore the history, economics, and culture of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. Through interviews and personal stories Anna and her co-host, Duane Cramer, explore the shame, stigma, and solutions.

In this episode, Anna and Duane discuss the complex fear of HIV in the Black community and how that fear has impacted the spread of HIV in the Black community. We hear from experts Nathan Townsend, and Deirdre Speaks about the lesser-known impacts of living with HIV in the 80s and 90s and how fear led to legislation that criminalized individuals living with the disease. 

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About Our Guests:

Nathan Townsend

Nathan Townsend is the HIV Prevention Programs Manager for The National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities (NAESM). NAESM was formed in 1990 and is one of the first African American community based non-profit organizations to stand on the frontlines in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, Georgia.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-townsend30431300/ 

Deirdre Speaks

Since 2000, Deirdre has lived, learned, and experienced HIV on her own terms. She utilizes her sense of humor and a lively personality to openly share her medicine and medical adherence journey with the world using #MedsWillMakeMeDance. Deirdre is transparent about how she is not allowing HIV to have control of her, but fearlessly taking control of HIV. Deirdre is a native of Virginia and has worked as an educator, case manager, and speaker, however, she is most passionate about eradicating stigma, ending the criminalization of people living with HIV, combating racial injustice, health disparities, and being an active Partner in Change as the co-founder of Ending Criminalization of HIV and Over-incarceration in Virginia (ECHO VA). 

Website: https://deirdrespeaks.com/ 

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About Our Hosts:

Anna DeShawn 

Anna DeShawn is a Chicago-born social entrepreneur who builds digital media platforms that center & celebrate BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. She received her bachelor's in radio/television production from Drake University and then went on to receive her master’s in communications from Ithaca College. Anna spent 12 years in the digital media space producing webinars and virtual events for government and corporate clients alike. Media has always been Anna’s passion so she turned her passion into a reality when she founded E3 Radio, LLC. E3 Radio is an online radio station playing queer music & reporting on queer news in high rotation with an intersectional lens. Most recently, she co-founded The Qube, a curated app of music & podcasts by BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. Anna is determined to ride media into its next era by utilizing online radio streams to play the music & tell the stories that deserve to be heard.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/annadeshawn/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annadeshawn 
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annadeshawn?lang=en 

Duane Cramer

Since being diagnosed with HIV 27 years ago, Duane Cramer has become a tireless advocate for HIV awareness and education, using his photography and creative skills to bring attention to the disease. Duane is an internationally known, award-winning photographer. He is well known for his photography-based HIV awareness visuals, and particularly for his efforts in the African-American community, which has been disproportionately affected by HIV. In addition, his poignant photos of dignitaries, celebrities and everyday-individuals gracefully capture the humanity of his subjects. Duane’s work, which has been favorably compared to the late Gordon Parks and Herb Ritts for his compelling black and white imagery, has been published around the world.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/eyeseeit/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DuaneCramer 
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/duane.l.cramer 

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