A recent study shows that many blacks believe in conspiracy theories about AIDS, including that there is a cure for AIDS, but it is being withheld from the poor.
A nationwide study by Oregon State University and the Rand Corporation, a non-profit research organization, surveyed 500 black Americans between the ages of 15 and 44. They were asked a series of questions about the government’s involvement in the spread of and cure for AIDS.
Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said they believe there is a cure for AIDS, but it is being withheld from the poor. They also believed the poor are more likely to contract AIDS because of a combination of racism, apathy and poor access to health care.
Also, 27 percent said they believe AIDS was produced in a government laboratory, and 16 percent said they thought it was created to control the black population.
Although blacks account for only 12 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for more than half of the 31,805 HIV and AIDS cases in 2002.
One University student said belief in some of these conspiracy theories is not isolated to blacks.
Heather Miles, a white political science junior, said one of her white classmates thought AIDS may have been spread by the government.
Though Miles said she does not believe this, she understands why many people do.
“I think more-educated people who pay attention to current events are less likely to believe the government and would believe these theories,” Miles said.
John Beggs, a sociology professor, said the main problem with conspiracy theories is that it is almost impossible to prove them.
Sheryl Thorburn, public health professor at Oregon State and the principal investigator in the study, said that distrust for the health care system may be a factor contributing to the rise in AIDS cases affecting the black community.
“The focus of the study was to see how these beliefs affected behavior,” Thorburn said.
She said many blacks cited the Tuskegee experiment, which occurred during the 1930s and ‘40s, as a reason for believing these theories.
In the Tuskegee experiment — a government study — black men were deliberately infected with syphilis and denied treatment while being told they were being treated for “bad blood.”
Jamey Hatley, a black creative writing master’s student, said that she has heard most of her conspiracy theories from friends and family but is not sure what to believe.
“I think most people are to the point where they are not sure what to believe because a lot of people don’t trust the government at all right now,” she said.
Kyle Frederick, a white business management junior, said he thinks it is “ignorant” for someone to believe these theories.
“Lots of people don’t trust the government, but it doesn’t seem very likely that that’s a reason,” he said.
Becca Kiger, a white biochemistry senior, said she does not believe these conspiracy theories at all.
“The government is funding too much research for there to be a conspiracy,” Kiger said.
According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2002, the U.S. government contributed $871 million to worldwide AIDS and HIV research, evaluation and surveillance.
