What do 30 years of AIDS and Ronald Reagan have in common?

Lets take a minute and acknowledge a somber anniversary.

The title of this blog post asks "What do 30 years of AIDS and Ronald Reagan have in common?" They both have June 5Th in common.

June 5Th, 1981: The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that five people in Los Angeles, California have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, in what turns out to be the first recognized cases of AIDS.

The AIDS pandemic began 30 years ago. June 5Th being the 30Th anniversary of a disease that has killed millions of people around the world

June 5Th is also the 7Th anniversary of the death of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the man who was President of The United States when the AIDS pandemic began died on the morning of June 5,2004. Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States of America that basically ignored the pandemic until the last half of his SECOND term in office. By then it was too late for thousands who were dying at a fast pace without the support and care of their government.

Ronald Reagan died of a disease that had full attention of medical and government officials. He had access to the necessary medical care and treatment that diagnosed his condition and sustained him until he was well into his 90's and his OLD body finally gave out. But when he was in office, many people found themselves with short death sentences and no hope. Many had little time to spend with their families and to say goodbye. Ronald Reagan had his family by his side for many years so he could die with dignity.

On this 30Th anniversary of AIDS, lets remember those who were lost too soon and those who deal with the complications and great financial strain of treatment of HIV and AIDS today. And never forget to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you from becoming infected.

But also remember the former President of the United States on this day. Its ironic that Ronald Reagan died on the same day that years earlier revealed a pandemic that he chose to ignore for years. Others will remember Ronald Reagan for other reasons, his acting career and his political career. And those who loved and cherished Reagan will omit one of his greatest blunders.

Ronald Reagan would have turned 100 earlier this year and people celebrated the anniversary of a man many hold responsible for thousands of deaths because the government he led wasn't there for its citizens.

As for this blogger personally, I haven't had to deal closely with HIV/AIDS. I haven't been sexually active and therefore I am negative. I have known only a few people personally who were infected or who died of AIDS but I didn't know any of them well enough to be considered a "close" friend and I am unaware of any family members who had to deal with the pandemic. I consider myself extremely lucky. But of the people I did know I witnessed the pain and grief of their friends and families. I witnessed their strength and their sorrow. And I wouldn't wish for my worst enemies to have to go through that kind of pain.

I acknowledge this somber anniversary with a little less knowledge than most because I didn't have to experience it directly. But I also acknowledge this somber anniversary with the hope and determination of always learning, always preparing, and always PROTECTING.

Stay safe! And read any of the articles linked below that will provide a much better insight on this 30Th anniversary of AIDS

"Calling HIV Negative Men, This is YOUR time" by Mark King published in the Georgia Voice

"30 Decades Later We Must Act Up Again" By Craig Washington published in The Georgia Voice

GAY, BI MEN REMAIN KEY TO HIV EPIDEMIC by Lou Chibarro Jr. Published in the Washington Blade

Robinson & Redd: AIDS birth and death.

May 1 in history....

Max Robinson, the first African-American to host a nightly national network newscast and often the first African-American/Black man to hold news anchoring positions on major television stations was born on May 1, 1939.

ABC News promo for "World News Tonight" anchored by Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson and Peter Jennings ran from 1978 until the death of Frank Reynolds in 1983 when Peter Jennings became the sole anchor of the program.




His first television anchoring duty came over 50 years ago in Virgina where he was forced to report the news behind a screen with the station's logo so that the viewers could not see that a black man was reporting the news at a time when it was unheard of especially in the South. One day he defiantly moved the screen and was fired but moved on to bigger cities and became a legend in local television in Washington DC earning his way to become a national figure in television journalism.




Max Robinson died in December 1988 at the age of 49 from complications from AIDS.

And musically, singer SHARON REDD passed away on May 1, 1992 at the age of 46. Reports were that she died of AIDS complications or pneumonia or both.

Sharon Redd was one of Bette Midler's "Harlettes" before becoming a solo performer with popular dance/disco songs like "Can You Handle It" (my favorite)