I am proud to say that I have been a Red Pump Ambassador since the movement began (click here for some  history on The Red Pump Project).  We work online and on the ground promoting awareness and education about HIV/AIDS and the issues surrounding it, particularly as it is applicable to women and girls.  The red shoe is a symbol of empowerment and strength as we fight the AIDS epidemic with knowledge.  I’m often asked why I ROCK THE RED PUMP…check out the stats below, and the reason should be crystal clear:

speaking to the crowd at the 2010 Red Pump/Red Tie Affair

• Leading cause of death for Black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years.
• 3rd leading cause of death for Black women aged 35–44 years
• 4th leading cause of death for Black women aged 45–54 years
• 4th leading cause of death for Latina women aged 35–44 years
• The only diseases causing more deaths of women are cancer and heart disease
• The rate of AIDS diagnosis for Black women was approximately 23 times the rate for white women and 4 times the rate for Latina women
• In 2006, teen girls represented 39% of AIDS cases reported among 13–19 year-olds. Black teens represented 69% of cases reported among 13–19 year-olds; Latino teens represented 19%.

These statistics were from The Center for Disease Control’s website and the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Fact Sheets (which cited the CDC). You can get more information about the effect of the epidemic from these sites. This was originally posted on The Red Pump Project’s website.  To learn more about what we are doing in Charlotte on March 10 to commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, visit www.carolinarain.org