"Keep Going": AAHU Grad Brandon Harrison Reflects Upon CROI

Brandon Harrison, an AAHU graduate and currently Project Manager at Primary Care Development Corporation

On February 23, 2016, at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data that suggests the lifetime risk of HIV diagnoses in all Americans is 1 in 78.

More alarming than that, the analyst estimated that one in two, or 50 percent, of all Black gay, bisexual and same-gender-loving men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. While we know this population and those of the trans-experience continue to have the highest new-infection rates among all other populations, these new estimates have created a state of emergency among members and leaders of this community—this is a call for action. We must save ourselves. We can no longer sit back and watch our friends, family and community members fall victim to a new HIV diagnoses. It's our responsibility to ensure that the Black community is not without the knowledge and access to the proper prevention tools or understanding of antiretroviral medications.

Lack of education, cultural trauma, stigma and access to care are all part of a vicious cycle that has caused not only HIV, but other health and economic disparities as well, to continue thriving in Black communities. Researchers have worked hard to deliver major advances in preventing and treating HIV, but unless these discoveries are appropriately delivered and implemented among those who need them most, Black communities will continue to be affected negatively greater than our counterparts. It is ultimately our responsibility to take control of our health. Following Black History Month, I have been reflecting on how much affliction our community has faced and overcome. HIV is just another one that we can fight. As we continue fighting to end this epidemic among Black communities, I have been honored to stand at CROI thinking about the way the people inspire me with their breakthroughs. One of the early plenary sessions discussed the need to engage men of color in clinical research. I felt the passion and heart from this session was an answer to so many things that act as barriers in the lives of men of color. I remember this conference and the science coming from it and think we have to figure out to guarantee access to this new promising research. You have to be able to engage at-risk folks and keep them in the study because whatever strategy you develop has to work for them.

I leave you with the words of Harriet Tubman, "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going."

Brandon Harrison is an NYC-based HIV advocate and a graduate of 2014 class of the Black AIDS Institute's African American HIV University. He recently started as the Project Manager for Primary Care Development Corporation. He has also held positions at both Callen-Lorde and the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, providing technical assistant and support for community engagement and new prevent technologies.