The Endowed Chair Lecture Series recently featured an enlightening presentation titled 'They Not Like Us’: A Retrospective Analysis of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community. Spearheaded by Dr. Sinead Younge, this session offered a profound exploration of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, weaving together public health politics, community-based interventions, and future implications for research and advocacy.
Dr. Younge serves as the David Packard Endowed Chair in Science, Professor of Psychology, and Director of the Institute for Social Justice Inquiry & Praxis at the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership at Morehouse College. Her scholarship and dedication to social justice continue to illuminate critical health disparities and inspire actionable change within Black communities.
The presentation underscored the historical and systemic factors influencing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, emphasizing the resilience and resourcefulness of community-driven initiatives. Dr. Younge’s analysis provided a framework for understanding how past responses inform present-day strategies and the ongoing fight for health equity.
Attendees left the lecture with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of public health in marginalized communities and a renewed commitment to advocacy and policy reform. The series continues to serve as a platform for critical conversations that drive progress and amplify voices within the Morehouse community and beyond.