Kevono Hunt: Struggling To Break The Never–Endin
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Posted By: Kevono Hunt on July 20, 2005 By Darryl D. Smith, Dallas Examiner Monday, July 11, 2005 . As he prepares for his internship with the Black AIDS Institute, he is trying to find his place in the AIDS battle. It continues to plague many generations, and it makes future battles against it look bleak. It has killed over millions of people worldwide. It hasn’t been stopped and continues to thrive. It is the HIV virus. However, Kevono Hunt is trying to stop it by the one way it can be stopped: education. Hunt is trying to make sure that Blacks are informed today. As he prepares for his internship with the Black AIDS Institute, he is trying to find his place in the AIDS battle. “What is AIDS and how is it affecting Black America? What can I do to influence and educate my peers? The reason that AIDS is running so rampant in the community is because we’re not learning the science of HIV and AIDS.” With the rising number of Black Americans who are infected with HIV, people have been trying to figure out why Blacks are so vulnerable to the disease. “It’s us who think that we are invisible that are carrying the disease. The ones who are dying are the ones who thought they were innocent.” Hunt can speak from experience. He has been affected by the effects of the HIV virus. “I lost one of my closest friends to HIV,” Hunt said. “Just thinking about the fact that he died and he gave his life to make sure that everyone was educated, I felt like I needed to do more.” The friend was Gary Stanton, who died at the age of 33 after a 10-year bout with AIDS. His death hit Hunt hard. “He was always my go-to guy,” Hunt said of his friend, who died in December 2003. “I never envisioned him dying. I never thought he was going to die because he was doing so much. It took me by storm. We were friends almost 15 years.” That friendship inspired Hunt to do what his friend did during the last days of his life. “I dedicate what I’m doing now to my friend. I felt that if he hadn’t taught me how to think critically as it relates to my sexuality and being Black, I would also be infected with HIV. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dying. I’m making sure his legacy lives on through me.” That legacy is making sure that Blacks are educated and getting tested. However, it’s harder now for people to get the courage to be tested and get the results. “So many people don’t get tested because of the media perception of them,” Hunt said. “Most journalists are doing the witch-hunt. They are causing more people to get diseases because people don’t want to be stereotyped.” Hunt also attributes the Black churches as a reason that most people get infected with AIDS and don’t tell anyone. “The Black churches have stigmatized HIV and AIDS as ungodly. This is the disease of Black America. For the churches to turn their backs on us like that is irresponsible and self-defeating.” After a person gets over the media and churches, Hunt says there are four “Gets” when it comes to HIV and AIDS. “Number one: Get tested. If you don’t know your status, then you don’t know if you have the disease or not. Number two: Get involved. Know what’s going on in your community and know what’s happening. Number three: Get treated if you do have it. If you do have it, get treated to live a longer life. Number 4: Get informed. What you don’t know, in this case, can really kill you.” Many people have no problem with knowing about the disease; however, they do have a problem with the protection they have to wear. Just don’t tell Hunt your excuses. “Those excuses are null and void these days,” he said. “You have a thousand different variations of condoms that add sensation and pleasure. It may not be as pleasurable sometimes. But would you rather have pleasure or would you rather have your life? At the end of the day, you want to be able to wake up the next day.” Waking up the next day is hard when the AIDS medicine is expensive. However, Hunt says that is another excuse. “The same medicine that Magic Johnson takes is available to everyone. It doesn’t cost as much today. Apply for health insurance. There’s never a need to be without. We don’t want you to have to die.” With all of the information that is available to the public, Hunt knows it’s time for the Blacks to step up and recognize the disease is affecting the community. Hunt is trying to help out, as he is a member of Leaders In the Fight to Eradicate AIDS (L.I.F.E. AIDS), an organization designed to inform college students about the HIV virus. “As long as we deny the disease is affecting the Black community, we will continue to die.” If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Kevono Hunt
From langston, OK Langston University class of 2006 Member Since December 2004 |
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