Band Aids Over Bullet Wounds
Photo By
Blacks are the most creative group of people when it comes to managing hardships. Decades of survival and crafty maneuvering through systematic loop holes, has provided African Americans with a sense of security against the many layers of white supremacy. However, if there ever was a kryptonite for the supermen and women of Melanin, it would come in the form of mental health. With mental health being the bullet wound, phrases like “boys don’t cry” or listening to slow music means your in your are in an emotional state, are the proverbial band aids in which we use to redirect conversations about trauma and depression. Here are a few idioms that the attribute to the stagnant state of MENTAL WEALTH in black communities.
The Same Hands That’ll Heal You, Could Be The Same Hands To Hurt You.
Recently, I heard a news reporter state the phrase, “poverty is a political choice”. She was speaking on the current, also never changing, homelessness crisis in California, but her words helped me think about other societal calamities. For example, slavery, the most obvious of “political choices” that greatly shaped this country. It has been scientifically proven that many Holocaust survivors were diagnosed with PTSD and other emotional disorders, and it's well-known that children of traumatized people are at increased risk for PTSD. Can the same be said for the children of slaves? If so, why is their little to no data linking “crack babies” during the war on drugs or families affected by same race violence to behavioral and dissociative disorders? Blacks can’t confidently seek help about mental health from a country that has shown no restraint in any effort to break them down in all facets of their well-being.
Black Don’t Crack
There is a undeniable confidence and swagger in which black people have that makes us feel special. We even feel invincible to the aging process, hence the saying, “Black don’t crack”. Unfortunately, mental health could interrupt all facets of a human’s lifespan and even cause more damage that can be seen on the surface. Let’s take in to account Simon Biles, world class athlete, immensely loved and support around the world openly admitted to be struggling with anxiety and ADHD. There is no denying her physical capabilities in Olympic events and her marketable personality for Uber Eats ads; however, her inability to perform under the bright lights were caused by concealed fight to feel as well as she knew she could perform. The chink of her armor was hidden from the physical greatness that everyone praised her for. Underneath the smile and beneath the beauty of her craft, Simone was remaining strong for everyone who believed in her. Maybe with a better understanding mental health, we can change this quote to, “Black can crack, but it damn sure won’t break”.
Where They Do That At
Social shaming is increasing by the minute with the help of social media. While others try to utilize social media platforms to uplift and inform, others use their profiles to entertain a desensitized individuals. News of a celebrity’s battle with mental health could easily be shared as a digital pillory. Only a small number of people will ask deeper questions about the person’s condition or travel the timeline prior to the post to gather more information and understanding. It is sad to say, but mental health in the black community is more likely to be roasted than it is to be helped. In my own personal experience, I have told friends and others in passing that I, myself, am meeting with a therapist. Not many responses have been empathetic and inquisitive. Initially, it’s a short pause, almost like they are unsure if they heard me correctly. It’s almost as if people are embarrassed for you and ashamed to join the small number of us willing to speak openly about what we’ve experienced.
That Ain’t Nothing But The Devil
Another supportive phrase I could think of that describes the black community is, superficial, yet, spiritual. Not to discredit religion or spiritual rituals, but blacks are more likely to go to their places of worship for spiritual intervention rather than to consider therapeutic treatment options. Older black folks hold on to many superstitions that provide short term answers for crisis interventions. This could be mainly due to the lack of knowledge of their caregivers. The experience with acknowledging mental health is not a popular past time for any community we can think of, but black people have steered eons away from battling the affects suffered from their unwavering hardships and social turmoil within the United States. It is much easier to ask for help in prayer, than to fester up the confidence to visit a practicing professional and speak openly about family trauma. We can’t keep burying the brunt of our lives in prayer because it could also be similar to suffering in silence (i.e. depression). Spiritual guidance can’t be the only treatment to we seek consistently, if we are to win the fight for our mental wealth.
Bite The Bullet
No I do not encourage anyone to catch a bullet with their teeth, but I will say that band aids were not made for bullet wounds. The first step in treatment is admitting that their are deeper scars that we cannot hide forever. Doing what makes us uncomfortable is how we define our future and the future of the generations following us. I challenge anyone reading this message to first admit to yourself, if applicable, that you have moments of mental fog. Then, visit National Alliance on Mental Illness, for more resources so you can continue the journey towards gaining your MENTAL WEALTH, “In Bulk”.
Peace and Blessings
Patrick Phelps
Comments