About NAACP’s Commitment to HIV/AIDS as a
Social Justice Issue

Throughout our history, the NAACP has fought to combat policies and practices that undermine human rights and social justice. HIV is now one of these important issues for our community. Black people are more likely to become infected, less likely to know they have the disease and more likely to die from HIV/AIDS than any other race.

Based on this belief, the NAACP conducted a year-long, 11-city research tour with over 250 faith leaders across denominations to identify best practices and challenges when addressing HIV within the Black Church. With this collected research and insight from the HIV manual advisory committee, we developed The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative. 

The NAACP Health Department has written the Pastoral Brief and Activity Manual to encourage faith leaders to engage in HIV advocacy. These tools were created to educate, alleviate concerns and motivate faith leaders to action. Throughout the Pastoral Brief and Activity Manual, we hope to inspire you and the communities you serve to join us as advocates and agents of God’s love to support those infected and affected by HIV. 

Given the Black Church's historic involvement in advocacy, we have come to you, our faith leaders, to join in the fight against this injustice. We have learned in the past that when the Black Church and the NAACP come together, great things are accomplished. Eliminating HIV will take another great effort, and it is with the faith community and faith leaders, like you, that we can mitigate the effects of the epidemic.

This is our CALL TO ACTION.  HIV is OUR FIGHT.  Let us PUT ON OUR ARMOR.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Produced by the NAACP Health Program Department

Co-Authors

Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis

Shavon L. Arline-Bradley

Rev. Keron R. Sadler

Vivian Duru

Morgan Shannon

Editors/Co-Authors

CommonHealth ACTION

Abby Charles, D’Lovely Gibson, Nehanda Lindsey,

Eunice Mafundikwa, Michael Rhein

With support from the HIV Manual Advisory Committee

Dr. Rose Blackburne

Willis Edwards

C. Virginia Fields

Rev. William Francis

Rev. Dr. David Goatley

Rev. Doris Green

Rev. Edwin Sanders

Rev. Dr. Timothy Sloan

Rev. Joseph A. C. Smith

Rev. Patty Smith

Derek Spencer

Rev. Charles Straight

Dr. Natasha Williams

Rev. Dr. Todd Yeary

NAACP Health Committee Members

Karen Boykin-Towns, Chair

Ed Dubose

John Arradondo

Dr. Rose Blackburne

Dr. Frances Brisbane

Debra Brown

Barbara Sapp Davis

Hazel Dukes

Ron Hasson

Arleya Horne

Larry Lucas

Dr. Annie B. Martin

Dr. Marcella Maxwell

Nate Miles

Christian Moore

Madie Robinson

Participating NAACP Religious Affairs Committee Members

Bishop Roy A. Holmes

Dr. Julius Scruggs

Rev. Breckenridge

Rev. Amos Brown

Rev. Theresa Dear

Rev. Dr. David Goatley

Rev. Freddie Haynes

Rev. Morris Shearin, Sr.

Rev. Oscar Tillman

Staff: Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III

Staff: Rev. Julius C. Hope

Staff: Trudy Grant

Support Provided by Gilead Sciences, Inc.