How An Open Talk About PrEP Transformed a Mother-Son Bond into Advocacy
When Winnie Thompson called her 20-year-old son, Sidney Keys III, to talk about PrEP, his initial reaction was what did an HIV prevention drug have to do with him; a straight, Black college student? Because of his mother’s commitment to harm reduction and open dialogue, that unexpected phone call challenged his widespread assumption that HIV awareness is meant for someone else.
‘The Talk’ I Didn't Expect to Have
When Winnie Thompson dialed her 20-year-old son between classes to ask if he had ever heard of PrEP, she had no script. She only had the conviction that her own discomfort mattered far less than his access to life-saving information. Reflecting on that unprompted phone call, Thompson challenges the demographic blind spots in HIV prevention marketing and reframes sexual healthcare from an awkward taboo into a routine discipline of personal responsibility.
The Black Church Is a Place of Healing. Why Is HIV Still So Hard to Talk About?
Where HIV is concerned, the culture of silence and moral shame within the Black church remains entrenched. ViiV Healthcare convened the panel “Separation of Church & Sex: Faith and the Fight Against HIV” at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta, where clinicians, theologians, and advocates issued a call to faith leaders to treat HIV not as a moral failing, but as a public health crisis.
Jason Arday, Black Men in Academia, and the Weight of White Privilege
This episode of The Reckoning brings together four brilliant Black men scholars for reflection: Dr. David Malebranche, Justin Smith, Dr. Ed Garnes, and Dr. Deion Hawkins. Together, they unpack what Professor Arday's death reveals about the specific dangers Black men face inside elite academic institutions — and why "white privilege" is often best understood not by what it grants, but by what it protects people from ever having to endure.
Actor’s Express Production Of ‘Choir Boy’ Defies The Constraints Placed On Black Queerness, Elevates Visibility
Actor's Express in Atlanta is producing Tarell Alvin McCraney's Choir Boy, running August 8-30, 2026. Actors Brandon L. Smith and Clinton Harris speak to how the play's music and story of a young queer choir leader mirror their lives as Black queer men. Director Amanda Washington, the theater's associate artistic director, says the production speaks to the time we’re living in, amid ongoing attacks on queer and civil rights, offering both comfort and a call to confront uncomfortable truths within Black families and communities.
Culture Change Begins in the Locker Room: The Legacy of Jason Collins
Jason Collins broke barriers as the NBA's first openly gay player, but 13 years after his coming out, not one active player has followed his lead. As tributes pour in following Collins' passing, one question lingers: why has a league that celebrates Pride Month and punishes homophobic slurs failed to create a culture where gay players feel safe enough to be themselves? The answer reveals the gap between the NBA's progressive public image and the hyper-masculine locker room culture that still keeps "the last closet" door firmly shut.
Michael Jackson's Legacy in the HIV Movement
Michael Jackson's humanitarian efforts extended beyond music into the HIV movement, likely influenced in part by his close friendship with activist and actress Elizabeth Taylor. Through benefit concerts, charitable donations, and public advocacy, Jackson used his platform to combat stigma and raise awareness during one of the most critical periods of the epidemic. His contributions left a quiet but meaningful mark on the fight against HIV.
Revisiting Dr. David Malebranche's Open Letter To Oprah Winfrey About ‘Down Low’ Black Men
“As one of the most powerful human beings this country has seen in the past 30 years, and someone whose show I grew up watching, it would be nice if you realized your influence and took more personal responsibility for the quality of your shows that address serious topics like HIV in the Black community.” - Dr. David Malebranche
Carrying on in Paradise: Reflections on The Paradise Garage Reunion 2025 at Xanadu, NYC
At the 2025 Paradise Garage Reunion at Xanadu in Brooklyn, writer Craig Washington joins fellow “Garageheads” to celebrate the legendary club’s enduring legacy. Through an intimate interview with original resident DJ and reunion co-organizer David Depino, the piece explores how the gathering has evolved into both a multigenerational dance floor and a living memorial to those lost to HIV.
Breaking Barriers: Black Men Navigating Higher Education
On this episode of The Reckoning, host Dr. Deion Hawkins sits down with guest Dr. Lance T. McCready for an honest conversation about what it truly means to break barriers as Black men in higher education.
'Demascus': The Revolution Will Be…on Tubi?!
Tubi’s “Demascus” upends TV norms, blending sci-fi, comedy, and therapy to deeply explore Black masculinity and vulnerability. Writer, Josha Alston, argues that the show is a fresh, essential vision for Black storytelling, revealing how real revolution comes when platforms dare to center authentic voices and complex emotional journeys.
In Remembrance of Jubi Arriola-Headley
William Johnson, the Director of PEN America’s Florida office, writes this tribute to poet Jubi Arriola-Headley.
The Philanthropic Paradox of The Red Dress Run
The Red Dress Run in New Orleans is famous for its spectacle, but its true impact and meaning for the Black queer community remain complex and deeply debated. Dr. Deion Hawkins explores how visibility, philanthropy, and Black queer joy intersect, and sometimes collide, at one of the city’s most colorful events.
Learning from Laverne: What to do with Black queer generational divides?
Laverne Cox’s viral confession sparks a vital call for nuanced, intergenerational dialogue on accountability and history in Black queer communities, beyond quick criticism or shame.
From NBA Star to HIV Icon: Magic Johnson Changed the Narrative and Revealed Black Reality
Magic Johnson celebrates 66 years of life as a person with HIV, a testament to medical progress, while highlighting persistent disparities facing Black gay men who still bear the epidemic's heaviest burden despite available treatments.
Archbishop Carl Bean on Faith, Music, and HIV Activism
Recorded in January 2021, Archbishop Carl Bean, spiritual leader, HIV activism pioneer, and the voice behind 1977’s “I Was Born This Way,” recounts his journey from gospel stages and Motown to founding Unity Fellowship and ministering through the HIV crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. It’s a candid, joy-filled reflection on faith, music, and queer Black liberation that turns history into a call to love openly and live unapologetically.
Context Is Key: 4 Things To Consider When (Accidentally) Sexualizing Keith Lee
When Keith Lee’s fitness video drew sexualized comments from some men, his response highlighted a broader tension over how Black men’s bodies are policed online. Dr. Deion Hawkins argues that attraction isn’t the issue; the issue is harassment, and true queer-straight solidarity requires respecting boundaries and allowing all Black men to be carefree.
Live, Laugh, Secret Love
Mr. Loverman is a quietly stunning drama about a 74 year old Antiguan-born British patriarch who has hidden a decades-long same-sex affair with his best friend and soulmate. The story of love, regret, and longing, inside the glass closet, is told through theatrical storytelling and remarkable performances.
How a Brush With Death Fueled Dr. Leo Moore’s Guide to Men’s Health
After surviving a near-fatal cardiac arrest during a routine surgery, Los Angeles-based physician and wellness advocate Dr. Leo Moore emerged with a renewed mission to empower Black men to proactively manage their health. His new book serves as a practical guide to screenings, self-care, and breaking long-standing barriers between men and the healthcare system.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner: Redefining Black Boyhood
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s portrayal of Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show redefined Black boyhood on television. Through Warner’s work, generations of Black boys, from all backgrounds, found permission to be complex and unapologetically themselves.