Alicia Keys: Great energy is like electric. Everybody is pouring to the streets. It’s the type of time to be in New Orleans.
Melissa Harris-Perry: I’m Melissa Harris Perry and today I have the opportunity to lead a panel discussion with Ms. Keys about the question of HIV in African American communities.
Teresa: When they see Alicia Keys, they figure “Wow, if Alicia Keys can sit here and be empowered as she is maybe we should come together as a community. If we can get there, we will be okay
AK: I’ve done this work with HIV and AIDS for twelve years now and to actually see the evolution and see the way things are changing and evolving, it’s very inspiring. When it comes to AIDS, this is our issue and we have the power to really talk about this.
Person 1: She has so much influence on so many people. I think its really going to encourage more people to get tested.
AK: I want to learn how to wake people up, I want to learn more about it myself. When you’re able to see how we can be a part of making great change, then you feel inspired.
MHP: Part of what we’ll try to do today is to dig in to both the individual stories of courage and resiliency but also how all of us can be part of the process of creating a more equitable world where people get to live well no matter where they live.
Kym: HIV and AIDS is definitely an issue that we need to discuss. It’s still here it’s still an issue.
AK: Somebody has to start the dialogue. It’s not our fault when we don’t know. But it is important that somebody and at some point we have to start we’re aware of what’s going on and we can’t just say we don’t know what’s happening to your point. When we choose to do that, then we can absolutely continue to force this forward and end HIV/AIDS.