Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California on March 04, 2023. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
*Sheryl Lee Ralph’s new documentary short “Unexpected” examines how the new HIV epidemic is impacting straight Black women.
HIV infection rates among Black women are 11 times higher than those among White women and four times higher than those among Latina women, according to the CDC, People reports.
“So many people around the world have moved away from the conversation around HIV and AIDS,” Ralph said.
“In 40 years, I have seen this narrative around this disease go from that they wanted to call a ‘gay white man’s disease’ to a ‘Black woman’s disease,’ especially the Black woman in the south of the United States,” she added.
“It has become the burden of this group of women to continue to do the work of raising awareness, and that’s exactly what this film does,” Ralph said.
In September, Ralph announced that her nonprofit charity, the Diva Foundation, rebranded and expanded its programming.
Since 1990, the Diva Foundation has advocated for HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention. The organization will now focus on five “pillars,” namely Health Awareness, Women and Girls, LGBTQ+, Social Justice & Racial Equity, and Food & Housing Insecurity, per Vibe.
“I have always believed that the core of effective artistic activism is trusted messengers,” Ralph said. “Trusted messengers make a world of difference because they make people feel seen and heard. They are transparent vessels that bring their lives and full experiences to the table to help others.”
She added, “The Diva Foundation works hard to ensure that the people who serve are represented by messengers they can trust. I’ve been blessed to have the support of many volunteers, fellow celebrities and influencers, and corporate partners to make this vision a reality,” she said.
Ralph’s “Unexpected” doc is now streaming on Hulu.
READ MORE: Sheryl Lee Ralph Rebrands Her HIV/AIDS Foundation
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