US: Mental Illness

No one escapes the perils of life that pierce us to the point of anguish. Unfortunately for black people, we know this sentiment all too well + are reminded daily as we maneuver our blackness while carrying the weight of our history. It’s complicated! We carry success like a tamed beast; proud but ferocious. We are loving at first glance, appearing to have it altogether but underneath we are tortured by our past. Carrying the weight of having to make it + then free everyone else. Despite our list of accomplishments, black people share a sobering emotional attachment to overcoming mental illness. Often labeled as “crazy” by our own when we vocalize that we couldn’t “pray it away”, therefore resigning to suffer silently rather than reach out for help.

I have a long standing relationship with mental illness + have since made peace with it. When you are raised in a home with a mother who suffered with depression all of her life; you become the antidote to healing by virtue of your own experience. Restorative practices + understanding has been the cornerstone of my work due to the unequivocal negative stigma that surrounds mental health in my community. The issue of masking the pain seems to be more important than addressing it. So I have made it a practice of mine to courageously speak candidly about my healing journey + how it has been infused in my work. We need more spaces to facilitate the challenges of black people who lack support + a proper stage for reconciliation in an effort to encourage authentic forgiveness.

The crimes of oppression, terrorism + racism continue to be the underlying causes of mental illness in the black community. While the economic gap plays a significant part in contributing to mental health issues; the stigma still remains the strongest deterrent from acknowledgement + acceptance of its presence. It is my hope for all black people to lean into the hurt, address their caregivers, redeem themselves by doing the laborious work of healing; but most importantly share our stories to remind others how we made it over. We cannot change our past; however, we can rewrite a majestically daring future that leaves our families + minds restored.