Mahogany Blue | PrEP and Black Women

The Mahogany Blue Community Event took place on Sunday, June 30th, from 11 am to 3 pm at The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. In response to frequent feedback from Black women who were unaware that PrEP was an option for them, every aspect of the community day was carefully crafted. Our efforts focused on attracting an audience with varying levels of knowledge about PrEP.

On the day of the event, over 70 people gathered, all dressed in various shades of blue, to celebrate the upcoming campaign launch and raise awareness about PrEP use among Black women. The agenda opened with words of affirmation, setting the tone for the day, and preparing the audience for the keynote by Leisha McKinley Beach on Black Women and PrEP. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring women living with HIV who advocate for PrEP and others discussing their personal journeys with PrEP as a preventive measure. Several participants from the Mahogany Blue focus group, which took place earlier in 2024, contributed unique elements to the day. One participant delivered an amazing performance while sharing her story of transformation, and another discussed her decision to embrace sex positivity while on her PrEP journey. We received 60 surveys, which we look forward to analyzing.

On July 16th, BHSP launched the highly anticipated “Mahogany Blue” PrEP campaign. This campaign prioritizes sharing information about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with Black women residing in Wayne County and emphasizes the significance of PrEP in protecting their health and well-being. To learn more about PrEP and the “Mahogany Blue” campaign, visit https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-m...

Prior to the campaign launch, we held four exclusive conversations with PrEP providers in the Wayne County area to gain a better understanding of PrEP utilization, efficacy, and adherence among Black women. These discussions were instrumental in adapting the campaign specifically for women in Wayne County.