By the mid 1980s, Indianapolis’ black community noted with concern one major risk factor of AIDS—poverty, which limited access to healthcare, quality housing, and sex education. African American men also experienced the stigma of being gay or bisexual especially keenly, making them less likely to seek out AIDS diagnosis and treatment. This frank ad ran in the city’s black newspaper, The Indianapolis Recorder illustrating its growing commitment to talking about AIDS.
Image courtesy of IUPUI Digital Collections.