National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), observed annually on February 7, provides an excellent opportunity to build HIV awareness within and beyond African American communities.

Today, we highlight videos—both new and old—that are available through AIDS.gov and can be used to generate conversation about the disproportionate impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on African American communities.

Each year, individuals across the country take part in AIDS.gov’s Facing AIDS photo-sharing initiative. The goal of Facing AIDS is to reduce HIV-related stigma and to promote HIV testing. This year, more than 1,400 individuals and groups participated in Facing AIDS as part of World AIDS Day alone.

Today, we are releasing a special compilation video of photos from the 2012 Facing AIDS campaign. The video, “Facing AIDS for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day”, supports NBHAAD’s key messages.  Please view and share this video in your local NBHAAD events and in other events commemorating Black History Month.

Other Videos Fostering a National Dialogue

Other videos also can be used to foster conversation during local NBHAAD observances. These include the following:

• Message from President Obama on the Importance of HIV Testing —First released for National HIV Testing Day in 2009, this video message remains relevant, calling on all Americans to know their HIV status.

• Addressing HIV Disparities Among Black Gay and Bisexual Men —Filmed during the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), this video features a conversation between Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases and Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Terrance Moore, Director of Policy and Health Equity at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, about the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on gay, bisexual, and other African American men who have sex with men and efforts underway at the national and state levels to address this disparity.

• USG@AIDS 2012 Video—In this video, also filmed during AIDS 2012, Mr. Phill Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute, talks with AIDS.gov Director Miguel Gomez about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the role community organizations play in creating an AIDS-free generation.

Visit the AIDS.gov YouTube channel for these and other videos.

Let us know about your use of video to support National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. How did you incorporate these videos? What videos did you create?