By Marcus A. Williams

Hip-Hop artists, athletes, activists and media personalities all came out to raise the awareness and prevention of the HIV/AIDS virus, among young Black women and to discuss the responsibility the Black church has on its community.

The message at Howard University’s Third Annual Hip-Hop and Higher Ed Symposium was that it’s time for young ladies to be held  responsible for their choices.

This year’s symposium tackled HIV/AIDS and the Hip-Hop Generation.

“This is a cause that is close to my heart,” says model, actress, T.V. personality and budding philanthropist, Melyssa Ford. “With AIDS being the preventable disease that it is, there is no reason that it is infecting our community at the rate that it is – especially the young women.”

Another panelist, music producer, public speaker, activist and AIDS survivor, Maria Davis says the hip-hop community has more control over the young community than a well spoken activist.

“Hip-Hop is a very big influence in our culture, amongst young people, not just Black-Americans but all cultures in every country,” says Davis. “The numbers of those infected in the age group of 13 to 25 are very high and hip-hop is in the forefront of this age group. The voice of the hip-hop artists can be heard louder than those who have been talking about if for so long.”

The panel’s chatter started with questions being posed about the hip-hop community’s effect on the perception and promiscuity of black women.

The panel was tore throughout the discussion over whether societal culture effects the public’s beliefs about sexuality and whether young women should be held accountable for their decisions.

Platinum selling rapper, Co-CEO of Diplomat Records, and advocate of youth outreach programs, Jim Jones has lost a father and several uncles to the HIV/AIDS virus and believes the education about this illness and self respect should start at home.

“I think it starts in the home,” says Jones. “If parents taught their children the right things about sex and drugs than what we [Hip Hop artists] do wouldn’t matter.”

But other panelists believe that the message hip-hop artists disseminate greatly affects the public.

“We as ‘celebrities’ or ‘personalities’ – whatever you want to label us as, need to take responsibility for those who are watching our careers,” says Ford “We are largely responsible.”

But long before hip-hop penetrated the speakers of the urban community, the church was the biggest influence on black culture.

The panel addressed the concern that the involvement of the church is becoming less visible in today’s communities, especially when it comes to addressing the crisis of epidemic proportions.

“We have been doing educational programs on homosexuality and prevention for the community members,” says the Minister of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, Rev. Melvin Maxwell.

Washington Redskin’s starting running back, Clinton Portis says that church may not be the answer.

He believes that the blame of contracting the HIV/AIDS virus should be placed on the person who makes the decision to engage in sex with the wrong individuals. He uses himself as an example..

“I am not even right with God yet so how can a female possibly expect me to be right for her,” says Portis.

One panelist says that the reality is that sex amongst the young black population is happening in outstanding numbers, so instead of “pointing the finger” the focus should be on educating the ignorant.

“I think that with enough people behind the cause and looking for different ways to distribute the right information to the people who need it, then we will be able to get a handle on it,” says Ford.

Platinum selling neo-Soul artist, Lyfe Jennings wanted to encourage everyone to be smart about their choice to have sex and to be strong for anyone who does contract the HIV/AIDS virus.

“Everything is good as long as it’s done with reasonable consumptions,” says Jennings. “God takes you through things to make sure you are able to help others when the time comes.”

But if anyone’s words touched the hearts and consciences of those in attendance, it was the words of Maria Davis, who told the crowd that she has the AIDS virus and takes full blame for contracting the disease.

“I have the AIDS virus and it’s nobody’s fault but my own — you have to put trust in you first,” says Davis. “I was looking for love in everybody else but I should have been looking for it in me and that’s one of our biggest problems.”

The Hip-Hop and Higher Education Symposium is an annual event that Howard University sponsors along with a host of other contributors.

If you would like to be a vendor or a sponsor at the 2009 symposium you can contact the CEO and founder, Joshua Kondwani Wright at (202) 213-8532 or jkwright@dcemail.com.