Events

Commemorate Black Lives Lost to AIDS

Published

11 years ago

February 5, 2015

Black History Month is a time when we can reflect on the lives of the loved ones we have lost to AIDS.

In Black America, HIV continues to be a crisis. Feb. 7 marks the 15^th annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD).

In San Francisco on Friday, Feb. 6, there will be a town hall meeting, “Our Health Matters,” at Glide Memorial in the Freedom Hall, starting at 6 p.m., 330 Ellis St. The event is free and refreshments will be provided.

In Oakland on Saturday, Feb. 7, a free luncheon and town hall meeting will be held on the state of HIV/AIDS in the Black community from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Preservation Park’s Ginn House, 660 13^th St. The event is free but requires pre-registration at eventbrite.com.

The overall theme, “We are Our Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper,” emphasizes that – regardless of sexual orientation, economic class or educational levels – we each can play an important role in solving the HIV epidemic in Black communities. No one is coming to save us – we must save ourselves.

To end the epidemic, we have to address the spread of HIV in Black America. In 2000, the CDC marked a U.S. AIDS milestone. Seventeen years after the beginning of the epidemic, cases among Black Americans exceeded those among whites.

Black AIDS Awareness Day was established in 1999 to encourage more Blacks to get tested, to get educated on the importance of HIV prevention, and how crucial early detection and treatment is.

Today, Black Americans account for half of the more than 1 million Americans living with HIV. African Americans continue to constitute nearly half of the new HIV infections in the country, and half of those who die from AIDS each year.

Young Black men, particularly our gay and bisexual youth, continue to be the hardest hit with continuing diagnoses of new infections occurring more often in this group than any other in this country.

However, there is some good news. Infections among Black women started declining in 2013 for the first time in over a decade. We can continue to reduce these numbers of infections among Black women and begin to do so for Black men.

We know that HIV is preventable and there are things we can do to protect ourselves and our partners. The journey starts with educating ourselves, our friends, and neighbors in the community about HIV.

With new advances in HIV treatment and prevention, an AIDS-free generation is possible. Everyone knowing their status is a crucial step. African Americans are more likely to get tested for HIV than others, yet two out of five Black people living in the U.S. still have not been tested.

New infections are happening through people unaware of their status. When one knows their status, they are more likely to protect their partners. If infected with HIV, early treatment can lower the level of virus in the body, help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and lower the chance of passing HIV to sexual partners.

Stigma and homophobia continues to prevent too many African-Americans from seeking treatment, testing and support. We must begin to talk openly about HIV, speaking to our children, our peers, and our partners about it, pushing through discomfort or denial.

For further information, contact mrjessebrooksii@gmail.com or (510) 575-8245.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 24 – 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 24 – 30, 2025

Published

3 days ago

December 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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Activism

Lu Lu’s House is Not Just Toying Around with the Community

Wilson and Lambert will be partnering with Mayor Barbara Lee on a toy giveaway on Dec. 20. Young people, like Dremont Wilkes, age 15, will help give away toys and encourage young people to stay in school and out of trouble. Wilkes wants to go to college and become a specialist in financial aid. Sports agent Aaron Goodwin has committed to giving all eight young people from Lu Lu’s House a fully paid free ride to college, provided they keep a 3.0 grade point average and continue the program. Lu Lu’s House is not toying around.

Published

1 week ago

December 20, 2025

Oakland Post

Tania Fuller Bryant, Zirl Wilson, Dremont Wilkes, Tracy Lambert and Dr. Geoffrey Watson. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry

Special to the Post

Lu Lu’s House is a 501c3 organization based in Oakland, founded by Mr. Zirl Wilson and Mr. Tracy Lambert, both previously incarcerated. After their release from jail, they wanted to change things for the better in the community — and wow, have they done that!

The duo developed housing for previously incarcerated people, calling it “Lu Lu’s House,” after Wilson’s wonderful wife. At a time when many young people were robbing, looting, and involved in shootings, Wilson and Lambert took it upon themselves to risk their lives to engage young gang members and teach them about nonviolence, safety, cleanliness, business, education, and the importance of health and longevity.

Lambert sold hats and T-shirts at the Eastmont Mall and was visited by his friend Wilson. At the mall, they witnessed gangs of young people running into the stores, stealing whatever they could get their hands on and then rushing out. Wilson tried to stop them after numerous robberies and finally called the police, who Wilson said, “did not respond.” Having been incarcerated previously, they realized that if the young people were allowed to continue to rob the stores, they could receive multiple criminal counts, which would take their case from misdemeanors to felonies, resulting in incarceration.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys
for a Dec. 20 giveaway in partnership with Oakland Mayor Barbara
Lee. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry,

Wilson took it upon himself to follow the young people home and when he arrived at their subsidized homes, he realized the importance of trying to save the young people from violence, drug addiction, lack of self-worth, and incarceration — as well as their families from losing subsidized housing. Lambert and Wilson explained to the young men and women, ages 13-17, that there were positive options which might allow them to make money legally and stay out of jail. Wilson and Lambert decided to teach them how to wash cars and they opened a car wash in East Oakland. Oakland’s Initiative, “Keep the town clean,” involved the young people from Lu Lu’s House participating in more than eight cleanup sessions throughout Oakland. To assist with their infrastructure, Lu Lu’s House has partnered with Oakland’s Private Industry Council.

For the Christmas season, Lu Lu’s House and reformed young people (who were previously robbed) will continue to give back.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys.