Troubled intersections: Police violence, gentrification, and HIV/AIDS prevention

Lisa Bowleg’s work takes her to urban neighborhoods where HIV continues to take a heavy toll among unemployed and/or unstably housed Black men. In Washington, D.C., even as the epidemic eases elsewhere, more than 16,000 persons are living with HIV/AIDS. Bowleg’s expertise in intersectional issues has led her to examine the social and structural stressors that seem to undermine prevention efforts. Her research shows that police violence, gentrification, and racism are working against public health efforts in areas that already have poor health services. Just as important as recognizing these as stressors affecting mental and physical health, she says, is thinking carefully about how we talk about them.

Social media hashtag: #FightingUrbanHIV