Journal 12

          Kami, the adorable monster with HIV, is a powerful and compelling member of South Africa's Sesame Street.  Not only is it a first for a character to have HIV, she also is portrayed in a way that removes fear and stigma from the illness.  She, like her fellow Muppets, teaches kids to love and respect one another.  As great as Kami is, how necessary is she in American culture?  Sesame Street teaches kids about common and relevant things.  Seeing as how almost a third of the population of South Africa as HIV, it makes sense for there to be a character with HIV.  However, in the US, only about 1 in 300 people suffers from HIV, which represents less than even 1% of the total population.  There is such a difference in the prevalence of HIV between South Africa and the US that it is almost silly to consider putting a character like Kami in the show.  It isn't that we shouldn't educate our kids, but rather the fact that because HIV isn't super relevant in our culture, especially to children watching the show, it would raise more questions than answers.  It also wouldn't accomplish the goal of the show: teaching children the value of respect and how to get along with others.
          Of course, this isn't to say that, as a nation, we don't to have a conversation about HIV.  I believe that the misconceptions about it need to be addressed, but not through children's television.  If education about HIV is what is needed, it should happen in schools and in conversations between parents and children.  Even though Kami is a wonderful and necessary part of children's TV in South Africa, I believe that education on HIV/AIDs in the US should happen in schools.