Film exposes Alameda County AIDS crisis

In 1998, Alameda County issued a State of Emergency due to the high number of HIV and AIDS cases within the African American community. Eight years later, the State of Emergency still exists, the disease affecting both men and women at alarming rates. Why have we allowed this State of Emergency to go on so long? This was the question which sent independent filmmaker Dedoceo Habi on the path to producing his most recent film, a documentary, titled "fearful Truth."     

The concept of the film originated from a conversation the director had with a friend who worked for the Alameda Health Department and was developed over the span of a few years. The period of time from initial writing, filming, and post-production concluded in approximately eight months.

While the subject matter alone makes for a particularly interesting study, the subjects chosen to participate offer varying degrees of insight on a matter found to be highly sensitive and often swept under the rug in their own community. Habi explained that after collaborating with a network of people in the field, he was able to identify the right people to speak with for the twenty-eight minute presentation. Included in the film are several health care advocates, a physician, church pastors, and other local community members.

The film addresses most critically how the church and various religious community organizations have let down the African American community-both those infected already and those possibly living in the dark about their own health. "Each interview showed that religion played a major role in what was happening in the African American community," said Habi.

Though a theme emerged from those interviewed which suggested that much of the onus falls on the individuals themselves, many of the featured contributors eluded to the importance of the church, and how religious leaders serving as beacons of faith and compassion in the community cannot continue to perpetuate a stigma around AIDS and sexual activity-homosexual or otherwise.

The reasons mentioned as to why AIDS has become so widespread are as diverse as Alameda County itself. The most commonly asserted reasons are infidelity, men hiding their homosexuality from their wives or girlfriends, intravenous drug users, and men who have had intercourse in prison and return home without knowing they have contracted the virus. All of which has led to a skyrocketing population of HIV-positive females in the African American community.

This reality poses a dangerous threat according to Dr. Robert C. Scott, M.D., who has been working almost specifically with HIV/AIDS patients since the early eighties. He asserts that while there are likely a small minority of Black churches which may have added an AIDS ministry or begun doing some form of outreach, the majority of Black churches remain "silent or are condemning" to those who identify themselves as gay or already infected. "So rather than help their community, they become a negative force," he concludes.

The number one reason Dr. Scott points to when explaining why people don't get tested? Fear. He says many fear the judgment of their close friends, family members, and even themselves. "Some people have such a negative opinion of themselves; they honestly cannot forgive whatever they have done that got them [HIV] positive."

Later in the film, an interviewee reflects on the years he worked as an AIDS educator in the community during the week, meanwhile working in the nightclub scene on weekends. He expressed how astonishing it was to go from one place where the disease was at the forefront of discussion, and then go to the nightclubs where he said he would talk to club-goers and have it seem as if "condoms and AIDS didn't even exist."

What the film does best is offer the viewer some poignant realities which may contradict some conceptions one may have about AIDS in our society. Thus Habi is hopeful that "fearful Truth" can find a home in the public school system, colleges, health care organizations, churches and other community-interest groups.

Habi-whose body of work includes a music video for East Bay rap icon E-40, a feature film titled "1208 Sherwood," and promotional work for Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums-is currently working with a partner on a series of Public Service Announcements to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in the community.

When asked how he is marketing "fearful Truth," Habi answered directly. "Now is the time to use film and other forms of media to better our community for ourselves. We can no longer afford to wait, point the finger, or act as though the problem does not impact us… it does."