Synopsis

Genre: Documentary

Running Time: 90 minutes

Log Line: How can 13% of American's population of 305 million people constitute 50% of new HIV/AIDS infections?

At the outset this strange new disease was mysteriously devouring countless young otherwise healthy white, gay Americans.

Thirty years after its onset the face of AIDS is no longer the image of lesion-covered, gaunt faces, or IVs dripping into the narrow blue/green veins of dying AIDS patients. Because of this new, healthier "look," the general public now appears to believe the AIDS crisis is over or -- at the very least -- under control.

As a collective calm settled over the general population, a dark cloud descended upon the African-American community. Reported by the Centers for Disease Control in 2004, and every year since, black Americans, who make up13% of the population account for 50% of all new HIV/AIDS infections.

Thirteen Percent is an epic exploratory journey that seeks to discover how such disproportionate numbers have come to be.

In our investigation we follow the stories of several people within the three top subgroups most susceptible to falling prey to this virus:

1. Black men who have sex with other men (MSM)
2. Youth between ages 13-29
3. Black Women between the ages 25-44

In addressing the MSM group, we follow the lives of:

• Stanley, now his 50s, who is living with AIDS and cancer after a life as a "player."
• Larry, 38, who was an up-and-coming college football star when he got the news he had HIV -- from a clinic where he went to donate blood.

Sharing stories with those between 13-29 are:

• Taye, 22, who at 18 struggled to come "out" and now must live with a diagnosis of HIV
• Raven, 21, who was born with the virus and when diagnosed at age 6 the having HIV ostracized in her Catholic school, and later banned from her boyfriend's home

In addressing the most vulnerable subgroup, women between 25-44, are three powerful and dynamic ladies:

• Marvelyn, 27, whose was diagnosed with HIV at 19 while also discovering that her "Prince Charming" was unfaithful.
• Juanita, 45, who was diagnosed in prison after a life of prostitution and drugs, but is now dramatically turning her life around.
• Patricia, 44, whose husband and 3-year old daughter both died of AIDS due to his infection as a result of a long ago, a short-lived flirtation with IV drugs.

Imaginatively woven throughout each and every story will be stirring research detailing

• The early start and evolution of the disease in black America
• Why it is raging out of control among African-Americans, while stabilizing in other segments of the population.
• Examining what is needed to the halt the epidemic

Thirteen Percent will also present:

• How the HIV virus acts once inside the body-for the layman to understand
• Medical research in identifying the HIV virus and work towards a vaccine
• The role of black clergy in the fight against AIDS
• The influence of black media in shaping thoughts about AIDS
• Political legislation from the early days til now in addressing this pandemic in the black community; along with an analysis of the Obama national strategy on HIV/AIDS

The AIDS Industry

Mind boggling sums of money have already been allotted to address the American AIDS crisis. Clearly today their exists an American AIDS Industry. Thirteen Percent follows the money trail to learn if there is a greater interest by influential individuals and institutions to eradicate or just sustain this epidemic.

Lessons Learned

How did they do it? Other nations have created strategies and initiated programs that served to reduce the number of new AIDS patients (UK, Brazil, Uganda, Thailand, Kenya). What might we here in America learn for these nations and their programs?

Act Up

Examining what the white gay community did to bring public and political attention to addressing this crisis, and thus reducing the numbers of new infections

Where do we go from here?.. Learning from effective strategies that have worked to reduce the number of new AIDS victims: Redirecting the course of AIDS in black America

Thirteen Percent will close with an interpretative dance performed by 13 dynamic young dancers, honoring several prominent blacks who have succumbed to AIDS, done to the tune of Michael Jackson's song, "Gone too Soon."

Thirteen Percent is a hard hitting film aimed at presenting a comprehensive look at this problem in America's black community, while shedding light on bringing it under control.