"I Stand with Magic" Public Service Announcements
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Cookie Johnson and Spike Lee at the filming
of Abbott and the Magic Johnson Foundation's "I Stand With Magic - Campaign
to End Black HIV/AIDS " public service announcement campaign, a program
aimed at helping prevent HIV infection in the minority communities. 
Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Cookie Johnson get ready for a take
during the filming of Abbott and the Magic Johnson Foundation's "I Stand
With Magic - Campaign to End Black HIV/AIDS" public service announcement
campaign. |
HIV continues to be one of the fastest growing problems among African-American and Hispanic populations. HIV is the leading cause of death among African-American women ages 25-34. To battle the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott, a global health care company, joined forces to create the "I Stand With Magic Program: Part of the Campaign to End Black AIDS" in 2006. The program aims to reduce new HIV infections among African Americans. With the involvement of Magic and Cookie Johnson, the program raises awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and treatment.
The "I Stand With Magic Program: Part of the Campaign to End Black AIDS," in partnership with local communities, provides free and confidential HIV testing. Knowing your status and seeking treatment are the first steps in fighting this disease. The Campaign has the objective to significantly reduce the new infections in African-Americans through HIV education and prevention, testing, access and motivation to care and therapy.
The goal is to create an open dialogue about HIV/AIDS. However, this dialogue must go beyond just Cookie and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. By calling on church leaders, community and civic organizations, public health officials and the general public to discourage the taboo and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, this will encourage a dialogue about the disease.
The first PSA entitled, "Stand," focuses on a "call to action" encouraging African-Americans to get educated, get tested and to seek treatment for HIV. The second PSA, titled "Talk" encourages women to protect themselves and talk to their partners about safe sex and HIV. The public service announcement campaign launches in advance of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2008. The two PSA's directed by Spike Lee will air during your regular programming schedule to educate Americans about the seriousness of HIV right here in our own backyard in the U.S.
Additional Information
- Press release: June 9, 2008
Now Playing: Spike Lee Stands with Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Cookie Johnson and Abbott to Launch National PSA Campaign - "Stand:" Magic and Cookie Johnson encourage education and HIV testing in the African-American community.
- "Talk:" The Johnsons discuss the need for women to protect themselves and speak with their partners about safe sex and HIV.
