Helen Epstein’s “AIDS, Inc.” really opened my eyes up to what life is like in Africa because of the aid’s epidemic and the stigma surrounding aids in that country. I wasn’t surprised when Epstein was discussing the negative connotations that come with aids and the stigmas that come with that, but I was surprised when she talked about how dismissive the population is of the disease. The fact that people in Africa with aids are shunned and looked down upon, yet healthy young people still aren’t open and willing to create conversation about prevention of this disease is mind-blowing to me. The younger population of Africa sees how aids can ruin your life and is aware of the great amount of people who have it, yet conversation about safe sex practices and prevention is not something that they’re talk about.

I thought it was interesting that campaigns like loveLife are using the “cool effect” to get the younger generation to start a conversation about abstinence, safe sex, and healthy relationships. While this is a cool initiative it neglects the other part of the population who is already suffering from aids and does nothing to address or improve the horrendous quality of life these people affected by the disease are experiencing. Same thing goes for the Y-Center, the younger generation is gathering to talk about safe sex practices, yet there’s no talk of the actual disease. The only program actually helping these people is Inkanyezi.

Overall, the article kept connecting to Hallward for me. The whole idea of speaking out about stories that are surrounded by shame to bring awareness to larger problems and change the negative stigma around certain things directly relates the aids situation. Epstein states, “…HIV-positive twelve-year-old boy…challenged South African president…to do more for people living there with the virus” (118). While Hallward states, “…shame is at the heat of suffering…if we can bring it out…it ultimately becomes a source for social change” (9:20). These two quotes are connected by the same idea; suffering and shame, whether it be about a mental illness, aids, or whatever, can be turned into an unstoppable political force that pushes for change if people come out and talk about it.