Rock the Red Pump: Rae Lewis-Thornton

Being 17 and pregnant, I had my fair share of criticism.  It was meeting me at my front door.  I was so sick of these old bitter bitches looking down on me, shaking their heads and offering too little advice, too late! So I really didn't want to hear another safe sex speech.  You know the ones from some fat, ugly broad smelling like fish, with cat hair all over her wool suit tell me "do like I did". The "stay a virgin til you die" kind of speeches. No MA'AM!! I'll take my chances.  But when Rae Lewis took the mic, she commanded the attention of everyone within earshot. She was a DIVA! Donna Karen suit and 4 inch heels. And when I tell you she worked them heels for almost an hour as she spoke, honey she was FIERCE.  I mean she paced the floor like her personal CATWALK.  See I've always been real.  Nothing fake on me but my hair! So I knew from the first sentence, Rae kept it real.  She was beautiful and educated.  But she stood up there and spoke candidly about how her boyfriend at the time of her diagnosis said "YOU BITCH" even though they hadn't slept together without a condom.  "I don't think I was prepared to hear those words.  I mean this was the man who said he loved me. I cooked his meals, and washed that negro's draws.  How could everything we had be summed up into "You Bitch."  I can't forget the post HIV stories.  The MARRIED men who said "You're so sexy. You make a nigga wanna get AIDS."  I just knew I was either going to never have sex again or wear a condom.  More than 13 years later and I admit I LIED. Even today I'd be lying if I said I'll have protected sex for the rest of my life.  I might want to have more children.  I don't know.  But I can make myself a few promises.

1. I'll put my needs first.  And I need to be healthy to be anything for anyone, including a man!
2. I'll get an HIV test every year.
3. I'll make my husband get one annually or we won't have unprotected sex (that's not an ultimatum it's a motivator).
4. I'll be 100% faithful to my husband. - I already made that vow!!
5. I will make my husband wear a condom whenever the mood strikes.  And I'll never explain myself or feel guilty about it! 

I know my own truth and I know my status.  What about you?