African Americans Tell Their Stories About HIV in a New Book

When Gil Robertson's brother Jeffrey tested positive in 1982, their family defied the norms of the time and immediately surrounded Jeffrey with love and support. Inspired by his family's experience, Robertson began gathering stories from dozens of African Americans about how HIV had altered their lives. The result is Not in My Family: AIDS in the African-American Community. In this interview with TheBody.com, Robertson discusses the anthology, which contains essays by leaders such as the Reverend Al Sharpton and entertainers like Mo'Nique, as well as activists, artists, and HIV-positive people and their relatives.