Robertson edits this landmark collection of personal essays, stories, brief memoirs, and polemics from a broad swath of Black Americans. Whether they are prominent figures from the worlds of politics, entertainment or sports, or just ordinary folks with extraordinary stories whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS, their experiences will galvanize public attention around this issue.
“ What was important to me with the piece was to have all of our voices involved in this conversation, which is why you see the stories of regular, everyday African Americans, folks like you and me, folks like our grandparents, our uncles, our aunts, our sisters, our brothers,” explained Robertson. “ All of us have been indirectly or directly touched by HIV/AIDS.”
He first conceived the idea for the anthology when his older brother, Jeffery, was diagnosed with HIV 25 years ago. Robertson recalled that his family’s response was atypical. As he writes in his introduction, “As I’ve watched my family move through the various stages of his illness and hear similar stories from others, I began to realize that my family was not alone. There are countless other families waging the same fight with this disease, and I wanted to connect with them so we would feel even more so empowered to wage battle.”
Robertson has enlisted a remarkable group of contributors to give voice to their impassioned thoughts and feelings. A partial list includes: from politics, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders and Al Sharpton; from music, Patti LaBelle; from film and TV, Mo’Nique, Jasmine Guy, Hill Harper and Sheryl Lee Ralph; and from letters, Randall Robinson and Omar Tyree, among others.
Like a parent refusing to name a favorite child, Robertson was reluctant to cite a favorite story in his book because as far as he’s concerned, each story shares a vital message.
“Everyone’s story rings and resonates a little differently and touches your heart and psyche in a different way. So all of (the stories) really speak to me and are just representative of every demographic, age, sexuality, gender, identity, income level and profession that we have in the Black community.”
However, he mentions some of the notable pieces like Mo’Nique’s “You Better Ask Somebody.’
“I asked a couple of contributors would they date somebody with HIV and AIDS, and Ivory Brown (an attorney here in Atlanta) wrote the most incredible piece called, ‘I can’t Stand The Rain.’ It will leave you speechless,” said Robertson.
The youngest contributor, Diamaan Samba Gueye, was 13 when he penned his essay, and his comments reflect the innocence of youth. Gueye, when asked by his mother his opinion of HIV/AIDS, responded that he wanted to be HIV-positive. “His response left his mother and I dumbstruck,” remarked Robertson. “Until we really got into his head and discovered that in a child’s mind, he associated HIV-positive with something that was good, and we would want him to have because as a kid he’s rewarded for positive things.”
In an effort to fully get his message of HIV health advocacy to the masses, Robertson is also the executive producer of the CD “Not In My Family: Songs of Healing and Inspiration.” The CD presents gospel songs from Yolanda Adams, Byron Cage, Kirk Franklin, Natalie Wilson, New Direction and Walter and Tramaine Hawkins.
“The CD appeals to further outreach. Black folk are a musical people, and music sometimes will resonate with us differently and more significantly than print,” noted Robertson. “So the songs all speak to issues of faith, of healing, of hope, of forgiveness — things that we would deal with when you’re dealing with a crisis such as HIV/AIDS.”
All in all, Robertson wants to ensure that Black people honestly continue to discuss this ever-growing health crisis.
“This disease has made such inroads that it can remain in the corner no longer,” he said. “It’s got to be addressed. It’s got to be looked at.” |
