IN THIS ISSUE

Condoms, Healthcare Reform and HIV Scapegoats

With HIV and STDs both epidemic in Black America, condoms provide an essential line of defense that can both protect our health and save our lives. In this issue writer Diana Scholl delves into the data from the Indiana University national sex study to uncover the story about Black people's condom use and what it portends for the spread of HIV/AIDS.

We also continue our look at President Obama's signature health care reform legislation. In 2014 when the new law goes into effect, an additional 16 million disabled and low-income people will become eligible for Medicaid. Writer Phil Galewitz, writing for Kaiser Health News, examines whether managed care or traditional fee-for-service Medicaid provides the most effective approach. In I Am HIV Positive and I Don’t Blame Anybody--Including Myself, ColorLines writer says Graham reflects upon our country's preoccupation with fault-finding when someone becomes infected with HIV--particularly our tendency to affix blame upon individuals rather than structural factors like homophobia, poverty and racism.

Yours in the struggle,

Phill