A decade after its acclaimed debut, the award-winning documentary “Even Me” returns with a robust sequel, “Even Me 2.0: Unfinished Enterprise.” Debuting on Prime, the brand new movie revisits the lives of older African American ladies residing with HIV, an often-overlooked group on the heart of a disaster that also grips Black communities throughout america.
Created by San Diego State College researcher and filmmaker Dr. Megan Ebor, “Even Me 2.0” follows a suspenseful journey to reconnect with the unique solid, capturing the emotional and, at instances, heartbreaking outcomes of their tales. The movie offers a uncommon longitudinal lens into the evolving HIV epidemic and confronts the persistent stigma and systemic inequities that proceed to form the lives of Black ladies growing older with HIV.
“Older adults are sometimes omitted of those conversations, resulting in misinformation and a scarcity of assist or therapy,” Ebor mentioned in a latest interview. “By overtly speaking about sexual well being, we encourage testing, prevention, and assist for individuals residing with HIV, no matter age.”
The timing of the movie’s launch coincides with a troubling actuality highlighted by the newest knowledge from AIDSVu, a number one public useful resource that visualizes HIV-related knowledge to advertise knowledgeable public well being selections. Though Black People comprise simply 12% of the U.S. inhabitants, they accounted for 38% of latest HIV diagnoses and 39% of individuals residing with HIV (PLWH) in 2022.
Black women and men had the very best charge of latest HIV diagnoses amongst all racial and ethnic teams in 2022. For youth aged 13–24, Black People made up half of all new HIV diagnoses, far outpacing different demographics. Regardless of these alarming figures, Black people represented solely 14% of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) customers in 2023, pointing to a harmful hole in prevention entry.
The issue goes past therapy entry. In accordance with AIDSVu knowledge, Black individuals residing with HIV report the very best ranges of stigma and the bottom charges of viral suppression. In 2022, 22% of Black PLWH within the U.S. additionally reported unstable housing or homelessness—the very best charge amongst all races and ethnicities.
Dr. Ebor’s analysis explores how these structural and social boundaries intersect with age, race, and gender. By way of her movie and faith-based partnerships, she seeks to advance HIV training and remove stigma. She described her work as a departure from the top-down strategy, as a substitute elevating the voices of these instantly impacted.
“This strategy is about amplifying lived expertise to advertise well being and wellness inside their communities,” she mentioned.
The return of “Even Me” comes as advocates and researchers urge a renewed nationwide give attention to Black communities within the HIV response. Earlier this yr, throughout Nationwide Black HIV/AIDS Consciousness Day, AIDSVu Principal Scientist and Emory College Professor Patrick Sullivan careworn the necessity to stay targeted.
“Our position is to verify there’s a clear view,” Sullivan remarked, “and to simply maintain shining that gentle.”
