More than Our Share: The Unchecked HIV/AIDS Crisis in Mississippi

Abstract

Rich and varied cultures as well as rich and varied geography make Mississippi a charming state. Mississippi has provided the world with talented musicians, gifted authors, and many creative individuals who have shaped American culture. There is beauty in the century-old oaks trees, power in the mighty Mississippi River, excitement in the sun and sand of the gulf coast, and grace in the abundance of fragrant azalea bushes. Underneath the veneer of southern gentility and beauty, however, there is a tangled and disparaging world of hardship and disparity. There are layers of dark history that have left deep gouges in the metaphorical landscape and continue to impact much of everyday life for the residents of the state. The horrors of slavery and segregation still echo throughout Mississippi, and prevailing conservative Christian values have profound effects on social welfare policy. Meanwhile, modern societal problems such as extreme poverty, racism, and substandard education tear at the fabric of Mississippi society. Mississippi’s place as last in the country in almost every socioeconomic category causes and exacerbates a host of deeper issues, and chief among them is the HIV/AIDS crisis, one of Mississippi’s deadliest and yet most ignored problems.