Film exposes Alameda County AIDS crisis
'fearful Truth' hopes to reach at-risk audience
Issue date: 2/8/07 Last update: 8/30/07 at 1:19 PM PST
Section: Features
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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 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.
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