The phrase “wrap it before you tap it” was used for educational purposes in the NAACP’s (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) “Battle for the Sexes.” The purpose of the gathering, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, was to educate young people on the dangers of AIDS, as it served to promote AIDS awareness week.
Members of the NAACP stood on the outskirts of the Student Union for a dedication ceremony in memory of all those affected by AIDS. The ceremony began with a prayer, followed by the reciting of a poem, “AIDS-The Real Truth.” It was written by Christine D. Patterson and recited by Keturah Green, NAACP member. The ceremony ended with the releasing of balloons into the air in honor of those who lost their lives to AIDS.
The group relocated to room 228 of the Student Union for a more lighthearted game after the ending of the solemn memorial ceremony. The boys were pitted against the girls in a game of sexual jeopardy, where each team answered questions about sex and AIDS for points. In addition to these questions, facts about AIDS were recited periodically throughout the game.
“Basically I was trying to expose the students to a form of entertainment through jeopardy, as well as educating them about the AIDS virus,” said Jeremy Lloyd, chair of the NAACP AIDS awareness week.
When the game was over, each participant was given a condom taped to a Dum Dum lollipop with the attached message “Don’t be a Dum Dum: wrap it before you tap it!” While this gesture was meant to be comical, it also served to make students aware of the risks of unsafe sex.
The message Lloyd wanted students to go home with was to always practice safe sex, and always know your sexual partners history.
“Always wrap it up,” said Lloyd. “Always ask your partner about their status. Get tested every six months. Use protection, use condoms, use dental dams for oral sex. Just be educated about your partner’s sex history.”