1. Michael Clarke Duncan Fighting Back to Health
Michael Clarke Duncan is still in the hospital and on a respirator, but the 54-year-old is fighting hard for his life.

TMZ is reporting that tests were performed on the actor on Monday and Duncan’s doctors were very optimistic because of his “very strong heartbeat.” The Green Mile star is also “breathing above the respirator,” which medical officials say is also a good sign. [MORE]

2. Jamar Rogers: We Need Visible People With HIV
(The Root) — It’s been more than 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the United States. Yet despite decades of awareness campaigns about prevention and the facts of transmission, the national epidemic persists. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 50,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1.1 million Americans are now living with HIV.

CDC cites two insidious obstacles in the fight against HIV: stigma, which stops people from seeking testing and treatment; and complacency, which keeps people from truly understanding the magnitude of the HIV crisis (research shows that the U.S. epidemic is far less visible today than in the past). [MORE]

3. How Much Does the Black Vote Matter?
When political observers talk about pivotal swing-state voters who can make or break an election, the images that come to mind are often the faces of white independents and blue-collar workers. But according to a report titled “The Hidden Swing Voters: Impact of African-Americans in 2012,” which was released by the National Urban League on Tuesday, African-American voter turnout is just as important and could determine whether President Obama wins or loses in November. [MORE]

4. “Dear White People” Tackles Identity Issues
(The Root) — Justin Simien doesn’t mind the possible comparisons to Spike Lee. Since the recent release of the trailer for his film Dear White People, a satire about Black students’ experience at PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions), many have noted the similarities between its take on race relations and Lee’s own joints. (The clip already has more than 600,000 views on YouTube and has raised more than $41,400 on Indiegogo, surpassing its $25,000 fundraising goal.) [MORE]

TAGS: AIDS, black vote, CDC, Dear White People, HIV, Indiegogo, Justin Simien, Michael Clarke Duncan, National Urban League, President Obama, PWI, race, SPIKE LEE, stigma, The Green Mile, The Hidden Swing Voters, The Root, TMZ, YouTube