Hopefully a future Allyship is a Verb guest, Anna DeShawn (she/her), created a mini-series called Black HIV in the South: How Did We Get Here? This is Episode 1 of 4. Please check out all of Anna's work with E3 Radio, LLC and The Qube (explained more in her bio further below). I had the extreme privilege of being introduced to Anna through The Ambies, as we were nominated in the same category! We met in Vegas at the award ceremony, and I cried tears of joy when she won Best DIY Podcast. Thank you for allowing me to amplify your top-notch work! - Chris Angel (they/them)

The History of Black HIV in the South

Go on a journey with Anna DeShawn to explore the history, economics, and culture of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. Through interviews and personal stories, Anna and her co-host, Duane Cramer, explore the shame, stigma, and solutions.

In this episode, Anna and Duane share their personal connections to the work and the history of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. Subject matter experts Nathan Townsend, Jada Harris, and Dafina Ward deliver insight into the reality of life for individuals afflicted by HIV in the 80s and 90s, the story of Michael Felton, an early unsung hero in the fight for justice, and why we must turn our collective attention toward this epidemic in the South.

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Hosts:

Anna DeShawn is a Chicago-born social entrepreneur who builds digital media platforms that center & celebrate BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. She received her bachelor's in radio/television production from Drake University and then received her master’s in communications from Ithaca College. Anna spent 12 years in the digital media space producing webinars and virtual events for government and corporate clients alike. Media has always been Anna’s passion, so she turned her passion into a reality when she founded E3 Radio, LLC. E3 Radio is an online radio station playing queer music & reporting on queer news in high rotation with an intersectional lens. Most recently, she co-founded The Qube, a curated app of music & podcasts by BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. Anna is determined to ride media into its next era by utilizing online radio streams to play the music & tell the stories that deserve to be heard.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/annadeshawn/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annadeshawn 

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annadeshawn?lang=en 

Since being diagnosed with HIV 27 years ago, Duane Cramer has become a tireless advocate for HIV awareness and education, using his photography and creative skills to bring attention to the disease. Duane is an internationally known, award-winning photographer. He is well known for his photography-based HIV awareness visuals, particularly his efforts in the African-American community, which has been disproportionately affected by HIV. In addition, his poignant photos of dignitaries, celebrities, and everyday individuals gracefully capture the humanity of his subjects. Duane’s work, which has been favorably compared to the late Gordon Parks and Herb Ritts for his compelling black-and-white imagery, has been published around the world.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/eyeseeit/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DuaneCramer 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/duane.l.cramer

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Credits:

Black HIV in the South: How Did We Get Here? is a production of The Qube. The Qube is a podcast production company and curated platform to discover the best BIPOC & QTPOC podcasts. Begin discovering at https://theqube.app and follow @thequbeapp across social.  

Produced by Latrice Sampson Richards of STS Productions (www.instagram.com/latricesampsonrichards)

Podcast Editing by Xperience J of Shhh! Jus’ Listen Media (www.instagram.com/xperiencejay/) 

Research Contributor - Nicole Holmes, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), Manager of Health Equities  

Podcast Fact Checker - Timothy S. Jackson, Director of Government Relations at AIDS Foundation of Chicago