“DJ Cipha Sounds” Comment Regarding Haitians and the HIV Virus
Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010
by Rose-Marie Chaperon
Chaperon Consulting, LLC
HIV the plague that knows no boundaries, its origin is still unknown. Thirty years into the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is evident the stigma that was notoriously associated with this infection in the 80s and 90s, still exists in 2010. HIV knows no boundaries, people from all walk of life, race, ethnic background, skin color, sexual orientation and social class unfortunately can be infected with the virus. Existing figures from the CDC illustrate how HIV is not discriminating. So why do we discriminate? Is it because we do not research the facts? Or is it that DJ Cipha is simply ignorant and childish?”The Haitian community in NY quickly reacted by calling for the resignation of the Dj Cipha who had since apologized in the same radio station for his demeaning statement. In the pictures that follow various members of the community in major cities like New York and Miami were interviewed and gave their reactions to the matter both then and now. This will serve as an important piece of record that tells the story of a people in a struggle to re-define their country to the world and bring back prestige to their community.
His comments were offensive, insensitive and inappropriate, HIV is not a Haitians’ disease, it is a human disease which is a worldwide issue. It is an increasingly acknowledged reality today that throughout the world, those most deeply affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic are also the most severely disadvantaged, whether on grounds of race, social status, sexual orientation or age.
Fundamental structural inequalities, social prejudices and social exclusion explain why women, children, minorities and people of color are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. This in terms leads us back to being enslaved to a system that has not dealt with the reality that racism still exist. Until we begin to view every individual as human, and not by the color of their skin, we will never be one nation. How is it that the United States is suppose to be a land of opportunity, but lacks equality for all? Could it be that in this epidemic that is greatly impacting minorities, we have forgotten what the word “equality stands for”? Not to mention we human have rights. In the United States, we have an obligation to ensure that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services.
While HIV knows no boundaries in which it attacks, since the beginning of the epidemic, racial, ethnic, and sexual minority groups have been disproportionately affected, now making up the majority of new AIDS cases, largely due to the social determinants that affects disease outcomes. Those social determinates include socioeconomic status, discrimination by social grouping. This is a hard reality, but a call to stop racial discrimination. No one chooses the color of their skin and their ethnicity; nor do they choose to live in a poor country and hope to remain in poverty. Life simply hands a few short straws and unfortunately Haitians ended up with a few of them. Ethnicity, skin color is given by God. However, we can choose to treat one another with dignity and respect, while making wise decisions to ensure equal respect for all. What gives individuals the right to decide what nation should be blamed for the disease, when this disease knows no color? Neither does it know sexual orientation, nor social brackets. What gave DJ Cipha the right to make his comments about Haitian women?
Many natives of Haiti think that “These irresponsible commentaries from hot 97 are deplorable and should be condemned with maximum participation of the community, including but not limited to men and women, community leaders and other radio stations personalities. A resounding message must be echoed in the media that HIV knows no nationality or gender with medical reports adducing the rate of HIV among Haitian women vis-a-vis others. This should be an opportunity to educate hot 97 and their audience about the reality of HIV in the US across race and national origin. Haitian women should not bear the burden of being single out as the source of HIV. This charge, if unmet, will have serious social and economic implications to our women and our families. How much more mislabels and mental warfare can the Haitian people endure while dealing with the lost of loved ones stemming from the January earthquake and the investigated cholera pandemic? Enough is enough!!!!
And a few Haitians say “DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, IT IS ALL SMALL STUFF. - Because we have better things to worry about. - Our country is in turmoil. We have a country to educate, unethical political leaders to dispose of, children to feed and the non-existent healthcare system to fix - Hot 97 cannot make us nor can they break us. Our nation is strong, we have been there before, we have survived these accusations before and we will survive this again. After what we have been through in 2010 – the earthquake which took nearly 230,000 lives, the hurricane, the cholera outbreak and the fraudulent election which our own leaders are responsible for and nearly cost us what little structures the earthquake left behind for us. As we start the New Year and the daunting challenges we all faced in keeping our country safe from our political leaders, routers, and murderers of our culture. We find that the country stands strong and vibrant and ready to take its independence from old unethical government. For that we ask to those we believe in and pray to everyday to provide us the strength to forget our yesterdays, embrace our today, and welcome our tomorrows while we say to DJ Cipha from Hot 97 to go chew on a brick”.
This is a pandemic that has moved beyond anything we could have imagined. The lives that have been lost to this disease have been a tremendous tragedy. Who would have thought that in these 30 years of an epidemic, we would be still fighting for equality? Certainly, not those who have been infected or impacted by this dreadful disease! So, you tell me in a world that is full of opportunities, why are we still addressing racism and bigotry? It is simply because we don’t believe in Equal Opportunities for everyone. There was in place a Universal Declaration for a reason, that reason being Equality of life. Life is so precious, who knows what this life will bring? Let’s just hope that it brings us together in Unity. Let’s not discriminate and label! DJ Cipha should spread the word and in the process attend sensitivity training.
“It is said of ancient nations, that each had its special mission in the world and that each taught the world some important lesson. The Jews taught the world a religion, a sublime conception of the Deity. The Greeks taught the world philosophy and beauty. The Romans taught the world jurisprudence. England is foremost among the modern nations in commerce and manufactures. Germany has taught the world to think, while the American Republic is giving the world an example of a Government by the people, of the people and for the people. Among these large bodies, the little community of Haiti, anchored in the Caribbean Sea, has had her mission in the world, and a mission which the world had much need to learn. She has taught the world the danger of slavery and the value of liberty. In this respect she has been the greatest of all our modern teachers” (Frederick Douglass). As usual, thank you for reading.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hey Rose-Marie, nice article. This DJ is nothing but a jerk. Hot 97 should fire him. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences. With big power comes responsibility and if you're trying to be a shock jock you have to be able to get as good as you give. You're broadcasting live to millions of people, some haitians, driving their daughters to school to forge their minds and attitudes about themselves. Im sure as a porto rican he's been on the other end of this type of vitriol. Shock jocks are no different than artists, they say whatever they think will keep the viewers attention span for another day to keep their job, It's just that sometimes its at the expense of your own dignity and integrity
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