I didn't know that was a thing now.
Is it stereotypical for a black character to have HIV/AIDS?
HIV/AIDS is stereotypical running wild in all 5 racial groups 😔.
Not that I am aware of. In fact I can't think of any.
I can't think of any characters from any ethnicity with HIV/AIDS
Are you asking if it would be stereotypical to create such a character or whether such characters generally exist with that ethnicity and those issues?
Certain it would be appropriate to create such a character since you are a "novelist in training" if the context benefited from it or it were essential part of your writing.
I know nothing about how frequently such characters might currently exist in current dramatis personae.
Personally I feel that this has been a stereotype that has died off awhile ago. First off The reason this stereotype was so common was due to the fact awhile back scientists had made conclusive evidence that HIV/Aids,along with other STD's had originated from certain colonies in Southern Africa
They believed that the first carriers of the disease were the chimpanzees that had been living their,that was then passed down by their great ancestors.However the reason that this stereotype is starting to dissolve is because scientists are discovering areas all around the globe that could have been the home of the first carriers of HIV/AIDS. The fact of the matter is we need to stop blaming each other for diseases we spread.
I saw this question yesterday and kept right away from it. If I read it correctly it has the whiff of racism and, yeah, it smacks of stereotyping. Because I live on the far side of the Pacific I can't know from personal experience to what extent such a characterisation would have in the US. Unless it's carefully handled it could generate all the wrong kinds of reaction.
From a writer's point of view ANY character can have ANY ailment or any quality. In order for a book to be entertaining it needs protagonists and antagonists, it's the struggle that grips the reader.
It's as racist to promote one group -- say Blacks -- as completely pure and noble while all the bad guys are White; so your character can have any malady or moral defect but you need to be careful with the balance. Avoid stereotyping.
Dear N. Harmonik,
Your Q is interesting from the perspective that around 1990, HIV/AIDS was used to justify homophobia...HIV a death sentence then... then several movies were made depicting young gay men dealing with AIDS, coming out to their families...and dying. Such media truly helped with advocacy for the gay experience.
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So I would say, just use all your writing skill and your wisdom to make certain your black character is done well, diminishing rather than reinforcing any stereotypes.
For reference, a couple of impressive movies from the early years of HIV/AIDS are AN EARLY FROST, beautifully acted by Aidan Quinn, and LONGTIME COMPANION.
