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The Magic touch

By Brent Dorian Carpenter

DETROIT – According to last week's hot Internet rumor, basketball phenom Earvin "Magic" Johnson has checked into a Los Angeles hospital under an assumed name to be treated for uncontrolled bleeding in his stomach caused by complications of his HIV infection, and is not expected to live. And if you believe that, there is a stockpile of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction I'd like to sell you.
The very healthy, robust former L.A. Laker made a series of appearances in Detroit on Oct. 8, touting his crucial messages of AIDS prevention and outreach, and medicine compliance. The tour, sponsored by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, and informally titled "Life After HIV," kicked off at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School before a group of 11th graders eager to meet the sports legend and bombard him with queries regarding his personal experience with the infection.
"Some of the kids' questions blew me away," Johnson remarked, indicating that many of them had shockingly little accurate information to protect themselves. "We need more soldiers in the fight. We've got to tell our people to go get tested. Then we've got to make sure they go get the results."
Later in the afternoon, Johnson made his way to Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, site of a Health Fair where attendees could meet representatives from an array of health care and outreach organizations, including Detroit Medical Center, Men Of Color and Community Health Awareness Group.
Speaking to a packed sanctuary, Rev. Charles Adams, Jr., Hartford's Associate Pastor, acknowledged the diversity of the group, which included many HIV-positive gay men, stating unequivocally, "You are welcome at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. You are home!"
Hartford has delineated itself as Detroit's leading African American church in the battle against AIDS, with a singular devotion to its HIV/AIDS ministry and recent breathtaking Sinikithemba Concert, featuring an HIV-positive South African choir.
Johnson took to the pulpit and spoke eloquently about the many trials he has endured and overcome in his 12-year battle with HIV. His words were in turns heartbreaking and uplifting, and clearly designed to connect with his audience in the most personal way.
"I started out on 45 pills a day," he explained. "In the beginning, I was crazy trying to keep up with all this medicine. The same issues you have, I have. No matter what your lifestyle is, we must bring these numbers down."
Acknowledging his own mortality, Johnson said, "I don't know if I will be here to walk my beautiful daughter down the aisle. But God continues to bless me."
Johnson spoke of the importance of spirituality and maintaining a strong support system. The pain in his voice was evident when the subject of rejection by some of his friends and teammates back in 1991, while he was still an active player, came up.
"I was riding high, and then I got that news and my whole life changed. This was the defining moment of my life. Cookie [his wife] said 'No, we're going to beat this together.' If she hadn't stayed with me, I don't think I would be here."
He indicated that he was not surprised that more high-profile, HIV-positive celebrities have not taken his lead and come forward to publicly announce their status.
"I'm not surprised or disappointed. They have to decide how much pressure they can take. For me coming out, I knew I could handle the pressure and I wasn't worried about people liking me or not liking me. There are bigger things to worry about. We've got to worry about winning this battle. I wish there were more that came out, yes – but if they don't, that's their right."
Johnson was quick to squelch another rumor that he is laying the groundwork for a run for the mayor's office in Los Angeles. He explained with considerable amusement that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the current Republican mayor, Richard Riordan, reflective of the statewide anger toward ousted governor Gray Davis. An L.A. news station ran a poll asking voters if they would support Johnson, whose successful business ventures have made him enormously popular. He drew an astounding 75 percent favorable vote.
Nevertheless, he said that he would decline the opportunity, placing his family and HIV outreach work first.
"I have a seven-day-a-week job now – and that's trying to live forever! I'm also a husband and father. If I was mayor, I wouldn't be here to talk to you today. I like being the poster child for HIV and AIDS, and trying to help our community grow in other areas, too. Supplying business, supplying jobs. My foundation has 300 African Americans on scholarships right now at colleges.
"And," he added, to the amusement of the crowd, "my wife told me I couldn't run!"
He concluded by stating that he remains a leading activist in front of the cameras as well as behind the scenes. "I just went to Capitol Hill to talk about funding for ADAP [the federal drug assistance program]. You may not see me, but trust I am fighting for us every day."

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