ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Even though African-Americans make up only about 13 percent of the United States ' population , they account for almost half of the people who contract HIV and are diagnosed with AIDS . Marvelyn Brown , 24 , is the author of `` The Naked Truth : Young , Beautiful and ( HIV ) Positive . '' Around this year 's Black AIDS Day on February 7 , activists are out trying to educate the public about the disease . Among those speaking out is Marvelyn Brown , 24 , the author of `` The Naked Truth : Young , Beautiful , and ( HIV ) Positive . '' Brown spoke with CNN 's Nicole Lapin about living with disease , defying stereotypes and inspiring others . The following is an edited transcript of the interview . Nicole Lapin : After 30 years [ since HIV was identified ] I 'm curious that the disease really gained a lot of awareness . Do you think people 's perceptions have changed ? Do you think the stereotypes still exist ? Watch Nicole Lapin 's interview with Marvelyn Brown » . Marvelyn Brown : See , the thing about HIV is that I think people are aware of it . They 've heard of it , they know of it . They 're just not educated about it . I 've had the opportunity to look at some of the comments that people were making . Just looking at the comments you could see , you could tell that people had a misconception of HIV as a whole . Lapin : What is that ? What 's the misconception ? Brown : That it 's a certain group of people . I know [ February 7 ] is Black AIDS Day , which is perfectly fine because it does affect the black community . But this is a human disease , one that affects us all . When I tell you I was shocked because I contracted a virus that I thought I was immune from , I immediately put it on gay men , IV drug users , prostitutes . I never thought someone like myself , whoever that was , could contract HIV . When I go and I speak , that 's the main thing that I hear . People are constantly telling me I make HIV real to them . Lapin : It speaks to [ a viewer 's ] question , `` What do you think is the most effective way to teach young women about HIV and AIDS ? '' Because it seems like they relate to you . They get you . You 're their peer . Brown : That 's the thing . Just simply be open and honest with them . I 've found that more effective , just me telling my story and not holding back . Especially with my autobiography , `` The Naked Truth , '' I just opened up . I was so vulnerable and people could relate to that .
Marvelyn Brown , 24 , wrote `` The Naked Truth : Young , Beautiful and ( HIV ) Positive '' The book tells how Brown contracted HIV at age 19 through unprotected sex . She uses her story to inspire young people . Brown : " I was a virgin when I got my first AIDS diagnosis in the summer of 1998.