"This Shit Will Kill Us"

It has killed so many already. Ta-Nehisi gets to the heart of African-American homophobia:

...then there's the obvious detriment of homophobia--the appalling HIV stats in our community. I always thought the absolute worse part of the Rev. Wright fiasco wasn't his quasi-damning of America, but the pushing of conspiracy theories in regards to HIV. It didn't make it better that it came from a guy who's been doing exactly the sort of outreach we need more of from the black church. Talk to black health professionals out in the field--they understand where the notion comes from, but they hate it all the same. Our unwillingness to talk pushes serious issues under the table. This shit will kill us. It's not a game.