Subscribe to this blog's feedYou gotta respect the place for friends, MySpace, for what it is. I admit it: I am hooked on MySpace! MySpace is the greatest and I love it (so much that I have two accounts.) “Why?” you might ask. My first account is named “Marvelyn Brown” and the other one is just “Marvelyn,” aka Miss Shari, which is my middle name. The “Marvelyn Brown” page reveals my HIV status and the “Marvelyn” one does not.
Now while “Marvelyn Brown” does get love, and she has yet to experience any hateful comments, “Marvelyn” has mad more friends and receives mad more messages every day. “Marvelyn Brown” receives comments like, “You are a strong person,” “I admire you,” and “You are such an inspiration.”
But the comments on the “Marvelyn” page are a little different: “You are so sexy,” “You look so tropical,” and “You are beautiful.” I find this quite odd considering that behind both MySpace pages is the same person.
Granted, the two show slightly different pictures, and one has a little more personality than the other one, but let’s be real: Is the real reason “Marvelyn Brown” can’t be sexy the fact that she has HIV?
I am sexy. And I have HIV. The crazy part about it is that the only time “Marvelyn Brown” gets called “beautiful” is when a person is referring to her story, or what she is doing to make a difference in the world, and I almost forgot the times when a man flips though her pictures without reading her profile which happens more than often. I just love the dude that sends the same cheesy line to both my MySpace accounts. That is pure comedy.
On the “Marvelyn Brown” page most people just can’t see past the HIV. They read the page, and all they see is that I am HIV positive. On the “Marvelyn” page, they get a sense of who I am as a person first. They only learn that I am HIV positive when I tell them (I make it my mission to do so). But everyone—both the people who meet “Marvelyn” and those who meet “Marvelyn Brown”—should realize that HIV does not define me, and it is not who I am. It’s simply a piece of me. And trust: That piece is not that big.
Beyoncé’s stage name is “Sasha.” Mary J’s stage name is “Brooklyn.” Although I am not a performer, I have a stage name too. Mine is “Marvelyn Brown.” “Marvelyn Brown” has personality, class, an aura and HIV but at the end of the day she is just another part of “Marvelyn.”
I've been fond of reading your blogs for a while. You're really good at expressing yourself, and you have a literary style. I am negative, but I have been scared to death once of contracting HIV, and it was Ann, Rodney, Andy, who helped me to get out of this hard stage of my life! Since then, I educated myself about it, and now I believe I have really good information medically and emotionally about it.
I can EXACTLY understand all what you're saying despite being negative, I know how people look and think about positive people, and I hope I can some day educate people in my country through a campaign or something, in order to make them aware about the virus, and ABOUT PEOPLE WITH THE VIRUS. You, for instance, is a significant example for wonderful people with the virus, and yes you are hell sexy, with or without it, a sensitive person as well "I could realize this in your writings", and you tend to look at things and how people think from a wider view. I really like your way of thinking, and definitely your way of writing.
I will be very happy to be an internet friend, for both Marvelyn and Marvelyn Brown. ;)
You're such a great, funny, and insightful person, and a very cute girl.
Hi Marvelyn Brown, I just want to say that its great to see another black woman trying to make a difference since we are the most infected population. I manage two hiv + support groups in my community and thats how im making my difference as well as other things too.
Hello Marvelyn, my name is Jilian I saw you at the Staying Alive Conference. However I did not take the time to get to know you. I went to the POZ web site and saw your picture and then I went on to learn more about you. I am new to this in fact I just signed up on my space I think it cool. i just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work. Seeing you in person I never would expect to learn all this information about you. I think it is a great way for people to get to know you. I am not an outgoing person so I generall don't do up to people and start speaking I guess that is why I did not say any thing to you, also being positive has made me very protective of myself. Anyway when I get a chance I will fix up space and maybe we could learn something from each other.
Take care of yourself, Jilian.
HELLO I AM VERY PLEASE TO SAY HOW WELL YOU HANDLE YOURSELF AND GOD IS BLESSING YOU. WE ALL HAVE A'S AN F'S ON OUR REPORT CARD BUT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK AT ARE F'S AND NOT ARE A'S BUT YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON AND I WILL LOVE TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
Hi, I just want to say to may God continue to bless you and work through you to inspire others. God bless you, sister
Girl, you are soo good looking. In fact when i first saw your pic i though... ahh she might be working on this but not infected. Then i read this post and it made me so proud of you... even if i dont know you. You are hot and smart and strong and most importante... you are a person who is alive... not a survivor, you are really living. That's what i want.
I am in Ecuador, but if i would be there i would be your friend so much, it is always nice to meet someone who is proud of herself and is true. Not common anywhere.
send you a big hug.
Juan
You go girl..Im tring to get where u are..But its hard for me with children and old expecially having a teenager..But i give you the utmost respect..
I am truely amazed by your story. I saw that advertisment of your book in August in a Ebony magazine or Essence. I am just now going out and purchasing it, a little X-mas gift to myself. I am amazed and sadden about your story, because I can relate to alot of the events. And I am sure that a lot of others can to. I am HIV negative, but I to have the passion as you to teach about HIV/AIDS and other std's. My role now is a Medical Assistant so I do deal with people with all kinds of medical problems, but I want to be the one that give them there first encounter. I want to be the shoulder to cry on. I want to educate before and after. I to have been diagnosed with a diesea that will be with me for the rest of my life (auto Immune hepititis). I remember how i felt when the Dr's didn't know what was wrong with me and nothing could be done. I was told that I was a walking time bomb. I thought way me GOD, I have kids, i have a family that loves me don't take me away. Then 2 weeks later after being in the hospital and being told that I had everything under the moon. I was correctly dignosed. I was happy but then it was the whole thing of living with this taking meds everyday. I'd always joke " If I ever got HIV I'd die because theres no way am gonna take those horse pills" The funny part is that I'd never before even seen the pills and still haven't. I can't even tell you five different types that people use, I work for an Allergist.....lol Anyways I just had to write you almost finished with the book I have recommended it to alot of people. I am proud of you just like you hear all the time sometimes GOD moves us in directions that we don't want to be in, but remember he'll never give us to much on our plate that we can't handle. I had to learn that. If you every need someone to talk to email me. I can truely say that I love the things that you are saying and doing. Keep up the good work. I am so proud of you and I dopn't even know you MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEARS. Audrey from Ft. Lauderdale FL.
MY NAME IS AISHA DOUGLAS ..I HAVENT READ YOUR BOOK IS BEGGING MY AUNT TO BUY IT FOR ME ..I CAN RELATE TO YOU && HOW YOU FEEL BASED ON THE PARTS I HAVE READ WHICH ARE SMALL PIECES=) BECAUSE OF MY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.NO IM NOT HIV/AIDS POSITVE & YES IM A STUDENT IN THE 10TH GRADE ..KINDA BAD RIGHT AS YOU SAID SEX IS OVERRATED ..I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU..IM DOING MY BLACK HISTORY PROJECT ON YOU & I CANT EXPLAIN HOW EXCITED I AM !!!! BUT IM ON MYSPACE I ADDED YOU& WILL BE WRITING YOU SOON...
"LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL GIFT&&A TIMING ONE.CHERISH IT"
[AISHA]