Must See: ’25 To Life,’ A Film About HIV, Lies, and Redemption
We’ve all heard the stats. Black women across this country are being infected with HIV at alarming rates. Many have pinned this epidemic on the backs of “down low” men, while others see it as irresponsibility at its finest. Whatever the case may be, nearly thirty years after HIV/AIDS first began to ravage communities of Americans, it’s still here tearing them apart.
Recently, I had the pleasure of viewing a trailer for Mike Brown’s unfinished documentary ‘25 To Life.’ The documentary takes an honest and surprising look at a man with HIV on a quest for redemption.
The film follows William Brawner, a young man who contracted HIV when he was just 18-monts-old. Since he was a child, his family told him to conceal his status and he kept the secret under wraps for 25 years. During this time, however, Brawner engaged in rampant sexual activity with unknowing women, many of whom he failed to protect.
Now, Brawner is married and an active HIV advocate, and wants to set the record straight and get a bit of redemption from those whose lives he changed forever.
But is it too late?
Check out the trailer for ’25 To Life’ and go to the film’s website to donate.
What do you think? Could you forgive someone who knowingly slept with you while they were HIV-positive?
48 Comments – Add Yours
Latest Articles
Most Popular This Week
Recent Comments
-
overseas_honeybee on
Meagan Good Tells Life & Style She & Her Fiancée Are Waiting For Their Wedding Night
+1. It's rare to hear someone stand up for what they believe in and be that example of what is right for those proclaiming Christianity. So...
-
Ja Moss on
Meagan Good Tells Life & Style She & Her Fiancée Are Waiting For Their Wedding Night
I would like to congratulate Megan and her fiance for doing what goes against the norm of this now sex crazed society. God Bless their...
-
NY's Finest on
The Black Beauty Standard
@Pseudonym: That lyric means her face is bleached but the rest of her body isn't.
-
elaine on
Dear H&M: Thank You For Reminding Us Beauty Doesn’t Stop At Size 6
@rlizak While I find some of your reasoning flawed (who is running 5 miles without breating hard?!?) I agree with you. While it is...
Seeking redemption, and asking for forgiveness after exposing and or infecting them with HIV/AIDS? He can go jump off the tallest bridge on this earth! This is the exact same BULLSHIT that has women in Africa disproportionately infected and affected than their male counterparts. Their husbands, KNOWINGLY and CONSCIOUSLY infect them with the disease, then when they are on their death beds all bones and no skins ask for forgiveness. Jesus!
The mother is a FOOL for stating that he does not have to tell his partner of his HIV status when engaging in PROTECTED sex. Umm….condoms tear?! Shit happens.
This short film/documentary did not portray any sought of redemptive heart, it just portrayed FOOLISHNESS at its highest point!!!!!!!!!
I would NOT forgive him! No questions asks, no answers needed on my stance. SHAME ON HIM!!!! URRRRRRGH…I’m mad as all hell!
“This short film/documentary did not portray any sought of redemptive heart, it just portrayed FOOLISHNESS at its highest point!!!!!!!!!”
This EXACTLY sums up my initial thoughts/ reaction after watching the trailer. There was no redemption there just trying to clean his guilty conscience and making it all about himself- he obviously did not and does not care about the women he possibly (could’ve) infected. His ass has the nerve to a documentary on this, crying and shit up in church talking about awareness. There is no newfound awareness for someone if they’ve known since they were 5 that they had this disease, this acid death living in their penis, locked-loaded and ready to fire, shoot to kill. I hope someone puts him in jail forreal. Then his mother has the nerve to sit there and defend herself and his actions with absolutely ZERO shame. On top of all this- his now wife is going through invitro to have kids cuz this is the safest method for them to have kids who won’t be HIV positive. What about the children of the women he unknowingly infected who now may have the virus. This man is the most basic bastard if there ever was one.
More power to the women that can say off the bat that they could forgive this guy because I could not. It would take years of prayer for me to wholeheartedly forgive him. He was dead wrong for his actions. Like he said his manhood and bravado were playing a part in the decision that he made to not disclose his status. To me that translates into “I wasn’t going to get any action if I tell these women I’m HIV positive.”
Im thinking maybe the women he sexed dont have it cuz if they do why in god’s name havent they had this dude thrown under the jail?? I wanna say something but wont cuz I dont feel like battling but I have a feeling I know why they havent had his a** arrested. Lawd
woooooooooooooow! how many people did he infect? in a way i mainly blame his mother- she taught him how to supress it and keep it a secret and tell no one. as a responsible human being and as a woman, she should have taught him what to do B4 he became sexually active. how many lives has she allowed him to destroy? DISGUSTING! he should definitly go to prison for what he did to all those poor women. he looks like he is genuinely sorry and by doing this documentary he is raising awareness which can only be a good thing. if it makes women think twice b4 having unprotected sex this can potentially save lives but it doesnt take away what he did
This man is a serial killer, period, point blank!! There’s absolutely no sympathy in my heart for this wicked male, black devil. He knew all along what he was doing and just didn’t care, that is EVIL!!!! He’s the epitome of a sociopath and the documentary is all about notoriety, fame, and money. DISGUSTING!!!
What about all the women he infected?
Did he ever think that maybe he can’t get in touch with his ex-gf because God-forbid she could have passed away from HIV/AIDS complications? He should really be behind bars along with his mother for condoning his decisions and behavior!
People need to understand that everything done is not meant to be forgiven. I would not support this and give this sociopath narcissist a dime of my money. He doesn’t deserve it!
Again, what about the women he infected. Why don’t they speak up? Oh, because he’s sentenced them to the same shame and silences he’s had to life with most of his life – and he’s pleased. He’s already redeemed. His family, they are a bunch of sociopaths as well. People are supposed to forgive him/them because they’re educated, and well liked.
That’s bull!
He is a savage beast!
Overall this look like a great documentary! In some sense he’s wrong, but at the same time it was up to the women he slept with to let it happen. Your telling me as a lady, a black one at that knowing that HIV hits our community the hardest! You choose not to ask and then have unprotected sex. And not only that, you knew he was a dog because obviously you guys wasn’t in a relationship. I did remember in another article how he stated women would sleep with him “”just because” So…. it’s just “his” fault? I believe the women are the ones to blame. I know if I was a guy and if Pu**y came my way, there’s NO WAY I would turn that down. Now it’s just wrong like how the girl mentioned where if he was asked and denied it. I’m not saying he was right for what he did, but women are more at fault if anything… Shoot I bet you half the women he slept with still dont know who they got it from… Just to show you how much they been around.
** You can only blame yourself**
SN: I cant wait for this to come out, very interesting! I always see these groupies at my school who would do anything for some attention.
BTW.. I wonder how he got it at 18 months, since he wasnt born with it :/
He got it from a blood transfusion.
His mother is the despicable one. she strikes me as being bitter that her son had the disease and she didnt care who else got it because of him. She’s the epitomy of misery loves company, but in this case its not only misery but death for those unsuspecting women who might not know to get tested. There is forgivness for him out there, but still everyone reaps what they’ve sown. There is no way around that for him. No matter how much he says he’s sorry and seeks to repay or redeem himself, He still will reap what he’s sown BE SURE OF THAT
I actually know this guy personally. I went to college with him and was quite friendly with him. He dated a couple of my friends, so this video hits close to home for me. He’s not the monster some of you think. For your info, he caught HIV through a bad blood transfusion. Back in those days, HIV was a gay, white man’s disease, and if a school found out a child had HIV, they would kick you out. Also, a lot of communities would go to these people’s homes, and throw things, try to start fires at their homes, get them kicked out, not let their kids play, and the news would be at your house. It was a traumatic experience for kids who had HIV in the early, mid and late 80′s. There was so much confusion that people had and ignorance, so I totally understand why his mom wanted to protect her son. However, I also want to say that he made a choice to be promiscuous in college. He was that forward, player type and he had swag. A lot of girls liked him, but he also put himself out there. He was popular in college. He claimed that he usually used protection, but I can’t confirm this. It’s really sad because I understand his fear on one side, but I also feel that he owed it to these women to wear protection and tell them. Then again, they have a responsibility to protect themselves. We can’t be so trusting of anyone. No one will protect you better than yourselves. I pray none of these women were infected, but if so, I hope that God can heal all the brokenness he caused to innocent people. For those that said he should be in jail, there may come a time where he’s prosecuted for this. It is a crime to knowingly have HIV and not tell a partner.
I couldn’t find any info about when/where this is playing? Help…
I’ll say this first, I’m glad he’s in a loving relationship. People with HIV/AIDS are often ostracized and stigmatized. So the fact that he found acceptance and love is great. But did he ever stop to think that it may not be the same for his partners? I personally don’t think I could forgive him. But then again I would never have sex with anybody w/o knowing their status first. I’m not trying to judge these women. But you take a risk by having unprotected sex. And some of the consequences can be life altering or life threatening. I hope he finds every women he slept with, and tells them what he should have years ago. I think about these women, not knowing and unintentionally infecting others. Very scary. He’s done something that he can’t take back. I understand he was raised to keep it a secret but he got older and eventually knew better. If your partner won’t get tested or ask you to just “trust” him. It doesn’t need to happen. We as ladies have to put ourselves first.