Today we’d like to introduce you to Kennedi Lowman.
Kennedi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
One day, I received a phone call informing me that I was HIV-positive and for months, after confirming that I was indeed HIV-positive, I went into a deep dark place. I wanted to find more young black women like myself to see how they were surviving life after their diagnosis. So, I started attending community events for people living with HIV (PLWH). During these events, I started learning about living and maintaining my life with HIV. I started seeing long-term HIV survivors and it gave me hope that I would survive this new phase of my life. What I didn’t see was a lot of young women mid-20s to 30s at these events. I started asking questions and wondering where were the young black women like me surviving life with HIV. I knew I wasn’t the only young black woman in Atlanta living with HIV. I got the idea one day from talking with my sisters to start a safe space for young black women living with HIV. I joined some support groups and I continued going to HIV centered community events. I joined an HIV community advisory board to meet more people and get my face out there in the community and I have met some awesome people and learned so many new things. I use my KLowInspires hashtag and social media accounts to spread knowledge so we can stop the stigma and educate the public. HIV is not a death sentence and you can’t get HIV from touching an HIV positive person. I’ve learned that HIV-positive women face ridicule and stigma the most so a lot of women don’t share their status or tell their story. A lot of the stigma and ignorance comes from within some of these beautiful sisters own families. So, getting more women to step in the limelight of HIV is still a task within itself. I won’t give up and I will continue to support my sisters and help them through this journey.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m literally laughing out loud. When has dealing with grown people ever been a smooth journey? Some of the struggles for me personally have been waking up to days where I literally have no energy to do anything but I know I have to go to work and everything else I have agreed to do on that particular day. Some days, being sociable is a struggle within itself along with getting back into the dating world and having to disclose my status and go through all of the questioning and education. I struggle with getting the women to know their value and come out to more events to show the world that life with HIV is not going to stop us. We are fearless warriors determined to do all we desire in life. Some of the struggles I see from others are side effects of the long-term use of having to take antiretroviral (ART) medication, fear and rejection from family or friends when we choose to disclose our status, and living in secrecy when no one around you knows your status and you are in constant fear of them finding out somehow. As well as having access to medicine and being able to get to your appointments. PLWH have bad days but we still have to go to work and some days that may take more strength than actually being at work. People living with a chronic illness just don’t feel up to it some days and some of us have to push through because we have kids or families counting on us.
KLowInspires – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I use my social media platforms to educate the public about the advancements with HIV such as new terms and research that is being presented. I spread awareness so we can stop stigma whereas PLWH does not have to live in fear of their status being known. There are new correct terms being publicized whereas certain words are outdated and rude in today’s society. I’ve had a lot of people open up to me about things they fear in their life and how my strength to share my story has helped them. Others have started talking about sex, STI’s (sexually transmitted infection), and condoms with their children and grandchildren. A lot of times in the black community, we are just told not to come home with a child as a teenager or you will no longer be a child but a parent. Why does talking about sex in causal conversation cast people as being nasty or promiscuous? It’s sex, everyone is doing it. I want to make these conversations more public and open so that people aren’t afraid to report rape or molestation or even feel scared to ask questions, so they don’t end up teen parents or with an STI. Anyway, if I can help prevent the next person from being diagnosed, is a win-win to me.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is working hard to achieve my dreams and reach my goals. If I can reach one person a day to help them live a better life, then I have achieved success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.klowinspires.com
- Email: klowinspires@gmail.com
- Instagram: KLowInspires
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLowInspires/?ref=bookmarks
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