Chuck Creekmur, CEO and Co-Founder of AllHipHop.com, Recaps Internet Week 2009 Panel
On Wednesday June 3rd, 2009 ICED Media and Loop21.com hosted a discussion called “The New Silent Killer: AIDS in Black America.” Now you might be wondering what does HIV/AIDS have to do with Internet Week 2009 but the increase on HIV/AIDS amongst this community is still on the rise. And it is with the power that we have to educate through social media and bring about change that we can all help reduce the transmission rates across all communities be they White, Black, Puerto Rican, or Asian. Many sites like Allhiphop.com, Mashable, and others make a strong commitment to community service and bringing about awareness to social issues. Panelist Chuck Creekmur Co-Founder and CEO of the popular site Allhiphop.com gave us the inside scoop on the panel and what was discussed.
Mike Street: So can you give us a recap of what went down during the The Loop21.com and ICED Media Present: “The New Silent Killer: AIDS in Black America Panel.”
Chuck Creekmur: We got on a small stage in front of about 50 - 75 people and talked about AIDS in the Black community. There was a very small, but influential group there of health care workers, journalists, bloggers, authors and experts. It was a learning experience and people were very honest. You got a sense of how destructive this is through personal accounts and stats. It was also streamed live and was a part of Internet Week in NYC.
Mike Street: What where some of the major take aways from the panel that everyone should know?
Chuck Creekmur: We all agreed that we have to communicate better and really stop people from being ashamed of sex and AIDS. We also decided a concerted effort is needed on several fronts, in particular the community and political arena.
Mike Street: What can sites like Allhiphop.com do to help with bringing about awareness around HIV/AIDS through the site and through social media?
Chuck Creekmur: We hope to increase our coverage of AIDS. We have covered it on the site and last November we did an event at Howard University to address the AIDS epidemic in D.C. I really do feel we need a movement though, something powerful and ongoing.
Mike Street: What do you feel is one of the major problems causing the lack of awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Black community?
Chuck Creekmur: Our youth doesn’t see what HIV/AIDS really does. They may see Magic as the shining face of AIDS and not really understand what it does. Also, there is the lack of education and honesty about what kids are doing. We have to treat this like the state of emergency that it is. We aren’t and most others don’t care at all. The stats on AIDS in the Black community are staggering.
Mike Street: What’s one thing that people who might be reading this piece can do to help bring out testing, awareness, and education around this crisis?
Chuck Creekmur: I am big on personal accountability. This is a massive issue and it can be overwhemling. But if you just start with you and then your child or brother. If your start small and build outward, these are actually life saving efforts that impact the community. Also, people need to pressure politicians to provide funding to these organizations and those that are trying make people aware.
Mike Street: Finally, with Obama in the White House what are 3 things you feel he should do around the issue of HIV/AIDS to help move the cause forward?
Chuck Creekmur: I would like to hear, very loudly, Obama address this killer of Black people. I’d like to see it on 60 minutes or let him do a photo opp in DC with people that have AIDS. It sounds a little basic, but just talking about it on a platform that he operates on would make it huge. Its a silent killer also because the media doesn’t make and issue of it. I’d like to see him increase spending, not decrease it. These actions speak loudly as well, especially since he’s African American. We need him on this. I’m not sure what the third one is, but if there is a conspiracy… I would like him to tell us.
We’d like to thank Chuck Creekmur for his time and his openness and honesty around HIV/AIDS in the Black Community. You can read more from Chuck Creekmur at Allhiphop.com.
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