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Rae Lewis-Thornton Still ‘Shocking’ Black America about AIDSBy Cheryl SmithSpecial to the NNPA from the Dallas Weekly DALLAS (NNPA) – The first time I saw Rae Lewis-Thornton, she graced the cover of the December 1994 issue of America’s premiere magazine for Black women, Essence. Known for its eye-catching cover photos, it was not a surprise to see a strikingly beautiful, young, Black woman. The deep, penetrating look in her eyes was enough to make you take a second glimpse. But it was the words accompanying the photo that prompted a third, much longer look. “Facing AIDS – I’m young, I’m educated, I’m drug-free, and I’m dying of AIDS,” read the bold headline. Her face was not the one I associated with HIV/AIDS and so I was immediately interested in her story. This honors graduate of Northeastern University was the National Youth Director for Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign. In 1984, she was the deputy director. She also worked on Carol Moseley-Braun’s senatorial campaign. A rising star in the political world, she first appeared in Ebony Magazine in April 1994, but it was that Essence cover that catapulted her into the limelight. Inside, in her own words, Lewis-Thornton told of how she found out she was HIV- positive. It wasn’t a phone call from a past lover or a medical problem that alerted the 24-year-old political organizer. Instead, after donating blood, she was told by an American Red Cross official that she was HIV Positive. That was in 1986. And it was her secret that she chose to share on her own terms. Then in 1992 she received another diagnosis. The disease had progressed to full blown AIDS. Surely that was a death sentence. “It was a terrible blow,” she said in a Dallas interview on KKDA-AM. “My whole world was destroyed.” When the Chicago native let the world into her world, she put a different face on the disease that had been dubbed the “gay, White man’s disease.” So how could the young, beautiful, intelligent and talented woman contract this deadly virus? “I am a Christian, I’ve never been promiscuous, never even had a one-night stand,” she told the listening audience. “I have no idea when or how.” Still, she contacted the men she had been intimate with and informed them of her diagnosis. Her then “friend” walked out on her after a few choice words. Eventually she began dating a man who knew of her status and they married. They are no longer together today, but she says she’s all right. According to Lewis-Thornton, members of the Black community were not paying attention to the messages that were being disseminated about the AIDS virus. “I know its Sunday morning and preachers are listening and they need to be spreading the message about AIDS education and prevention,” she continued. “While I have received a positive response from people close to me, everyone does not have the same type of support and the church must step forward. “I know I am dying of AIDS but I am going to keep on telling people about this foul, filthy, nasty, vulgar disease.” Despite that declaration a decade ago, she is still alive and well today and now an ordained minister. She continues to spread information about HIV/AIDS around the world. At a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority luncheon in Dallas, she explained: “For years I didn’t have symptoms. My sorors (sorority sisters), I am telling you that you have to take control of your bodies. Don’t let a man touch you without a condom. To not use a condom is like committing suicide.” Few witness the mental or even the physical challenges this Baptist minister endures. She’s good at hiding her suffering to hopefully help others avoid the same fate. Nausea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, depression, diarrhea, weight gain and loss, headaches, vaginal discharges and fear are just a few of the many side effects that she said has occurred. And then there’s the enormous amount of medicine that she has to take to insure that her T-Cell Count remain at a safe level. Does she regret appearing in Essence? Not in the least. “It was a valiant effort on my behalf and on Essence’s part,” said Lewis-Thornton. “It was ground breaking when we did it. I’m glad Susan Taylor (Essence editor) had the insight and asked me to do it, after hearing me speak for three minutes after an event. People still come up to me with their copy of that issue. We shocked Black America!”