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The Black Diaspora in the US A State of Being

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)

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The Black Diaspora in the US A State of Being

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  1. The Black Diaspora in the USA State of Being Vanessa Johnson, JD United States US Positive Women’s Network

  2. 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.

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. The New Jim Crow

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Want to contact me? Vanessa Johnson, JD Principal and Owner Just Cause Consulting, LLC 604 9th Street NE, Lower Level Washington, DC 20002 vjohnson84bj@gmail.com 301-768-2852

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