Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
Magic Johnson will serve as the 2026 Commencement Speaker on May 9
The world was stunned when, on Nov. 7, 1991, Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive.
“Tuskegee students grew up and now live in a world where HIV is treatable, access to treatment and care is readily available and prejudice and misinformation about people living with HIV and AIDS, while not completely eliminated is far less a part of the conversation,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO. “That reality exists because of what Magic Johnson did in 1991.”
When Magic announced he was HIV‑positive in 1991, HIV was widely seen as a death sentence. His announcement put a recognizable, beloved face on HIV, shifting public perception and forcing the country to confront misinformation and stigma.
It became a conversation – and Tuskegee knows something about having tough conversations about healthcare outcomes.
Tuskegee has always been at the vanguard of solving complex health problems, particularly for people who are underserved and overlooked – just as patients with HIV/AIDS were refused treatment and discriminated against when Magic stepped forward about his diagnosis. Magic’s courage, candor and accountability changed the conversation. It challenged people to care and to ask important questions like “why not?” when it came to finding solutions through prevention, treatment and advocacy.
“We often ask ‘why not’ at Tuskegee honoring decades of pioneering work to increase equitable access to research, compassionate care and outcomes,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO. “We are proud to welcome to Mother Tuskegee a man who transcends athletic icon status not only because he dared to push through fear, shame and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS. He went further to be visible, vulnerable and add his considerable value to normalize testing, treatment and shame-free conversation about health and wellness – freedom millions of people enjoy today.”
You can view the historic press conference here.
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