Community-Engaged Project: Resilient Narratives of Aging HIV Positive Black Men

This project explores the lived experiences of HIV-positive Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men over the age of 45. Grounded in Mohan Dutta’s culture-centered approach to communication, the study centers the voices of a population often marginalized in both healthcare and academic discourse. Through focus group analysis, the research pursued three key goals: (1) to understand how participants navigate healthcare systems while managing the dual challenges of aging and living with HIV; (2) to explore the forms of resilience and community care they cultivate; and (3) to inform policy changes that respond directly to their lived realities. Findings highlight how these men negotiate the intersecting impacts of race, sexuality, class, age, and chronic illness within healthcare contexts. Participants shared strategies for surviving and thriving, emphasizing the importance of mutual support, cultural affirmation, and resistance to systemic marginalization. By centering their narratives, this study advances more inclusive public health dialogue and policy advocacy that honors the needs, strengths, and dignity of aging Black men living with HIV.