Black Women and HIV- An Epidemic Within The Epidemic

Black women represent nearly 50% of new HIV diagnoses among women in the U.S. — while making up just 13% of the population. That's not a statistic to scroll past. In this powerful episode of Viva La Vulva, Dr. Cara Quant sits down with three extraordinary guests to confront the HIV epidemic that continues to disproportionately devastate Black women: public health practitioner Nikole Trainor, sex educator Lashae Alexander, and Coloni Brown, a Black woman sharing her personal journey on PrEP. Together, they dismantle the shame, silence, and systemic failures that stand between Black women and the prevention tools they deserve — from the real barriers blocking PrEP access to the honest, shame-free conversations about safer sex that too many women have never been allowed to have.

This episode isn't a history lesson — it's a rallying cry. Originally aired in 2023 and more urgent than ever, this podcast segment on Black Women and HIV: An Epidemic Within The Epidemic explores what bodily autonomy truly looks like when the medical system hasn't always shown up for you. Whether you're here to learn, to advocate, or to finally hear your own experience reflected back to you, this conversation is for you. Because community-rooted education and culturally relevant care aren't just helpful — research shows they save lives. Tune in, share widely, and remember: knowing is the first act of resistance.