New Book: The Straight-Up Truth About The Down-Low: Women Share their Stories of Betrayal, Pain and Survival (Creative Wisdom Books-March 2008). Once the down-low was exposed, its link to the spread of HIV/AIDS in African-American women was obvious, despite the lack of scientific data. African-American women are no more promiscuous than their white counterparts, however there is a higher HIV infection rate amongst black women. One reason, as Sandra’s story suggests, is the high incarceration rate of black men.