Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, life-threatening illness caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS weakens the immune system, thus hampering the body's defense mechanisms. AIDS is known to be a fatal disease, especially if not treated in time. AIDS and HIV are a growing epidemic among the African American population with roots dating back to Africa. AIDS and HIV require greater exposure and awareness within the African American community and the gay community. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a new disease in 1981 when increasing numbers of young gay men succumbed to unusual opportunistic infections and rare malignancies (Gallant49). At that time, many people were in contact with this disease because it was not yet discovered and people were not aware of it. Scientists believe that HIV comes from a particular species of West African chimpanzee. Humans contracted this disease by hunting and eating infected animals. A first clue emerged in 1986 when a morphologically similar but antigenically distinct virus was found to cause AIDS in patients in West Africa (Goosby24). During this time, scientists had more evidence to support their claims about this disease. Once discovered, this disease was identified as one of the causes of what has since become one of the most devastating infectious diseases in recent history (Goosby101). This disease was fatal because similar to the Black Death, it killed the majority of the population. Since its first identification nearly three decades ago, the pandemic form of HIV-1 has infected at least 60 million people and caused more than 25 million deaths...... middle of paper ...... ar. “HIV/Aids is a pandemic.” Americas 61.2 (2009): 20-27. Literary Reference Center Plus. Internet. February 20, 2014. Gallant, Joel. 100 Questions and Answers on HIV/AIDS. Maryland: Jones and Bartlett Publishing.2012.Print.Goosby, Eric.Living with HIV/AIDS.Indiana:Hilton Publishing Company.2013.Print.Livingston, Ivor. Handbook of Black American Health. Connecticut: Praegar Press.2004.PrintFarnan, Rose.What Nurses Know About HIV/AIDS.NewYork:Demos Medical Publishing.2012.PrintFurniss,Charlie.AIDS Crisis.Connecticut:Nowhaven Press.2006.PrintGill,Peter.Body Count Fixing the Blame for Global AIDS.New York:Thunder Mouth Press.2006.Print.Jackson,Donna.The Autommune Epidemic.New York:Touchstone Publishing.2008.PrintSelby,Kevin.Basis of AIDS.London:Touchline Press.2009.Print.