KENYA FEEL WHY:
It's Time We Had a Talk
I fought so hard with myself about this topic. I kept saying, "this is too grave of a subject to blog about", but God just wouldn't let me sleep without speaking on it. Suicide among young black men is on the rise. It's a hard truth no one wants to face, but it's happening and someone has to talk about it.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a die-hard August Alsina fan. I listen to all of his music no matter how depressing (as all the haters say) it may be. I was in the car listening to his song "Song Cry" today and one part in particular stood out to me. He says,
"this moment mines for the taking
for all them nights I thought of suicide, contemplating"
Now, I've heard this song and that particular part plenty of times, but for some reason it really spoke to me today. I have heard one too many young black men tell me that they've thought of suicide.
In fact, suicide rates among black youths is the highest it has been in the past 50 years with nearly a 30% increase. And that's not even the kicker, suicide rates among black children (ages 5-11) rose from 1.78 to 3.47 per 1 million between 1993 and 2012. Can you even fatham what those numbers would look like for teenagers or college aged males? This is serious and this is a problem.
The black community has always frowned upon suicide. We've been brought up thinking that suicide was a "white people" thing. That's not true. Regardless of skin color, we're all human. We all think, we all feel, we all hurt, and sadly enough we could all commit suicide. Nothing makes me more upset than the notion that black people don't commit suicide.
The black community has always frowned upon suicide. We've been brought up thinking that suicide was a "white people" thing. That's not true. Regardless of skin color, we're all human. We all think, we all feel, we all hurt, and sadly enough we could all commit suicide. Nothing makes me more upset than the notion that black people don't commit suicide.
Another thing that I believe contributes to rising suicide rates in black males is that we teach them not to have emotions. There is nothing wrong with feeling emotion or showing emotion.
When you tell a boy that he can't cry or he's acting like a punk if he tries to voice his feelings then you are hindering him. We are human, we're designed to feel. When someone feels like they can't express themselves without being called out they retreat into themselves. They feel as if they have no one to turn to, no one to understand them, and they are all alone. In the end, they feel as if the only option is suicide.
It's a sad fact that a mother would rather cuss her child out and tell him that "suicide isn't a black people thing" rather than actually hear him out and get him some help. We have to change. It's okay to cry! It's okay to feel! There is NOTHING wrong with expressing your emotions. There is nothing about your feelings that makes you less of a man.
Black men are already being criminalized, gunned down in the streets, and robbed of their youths do we really want them taking their own lives as well? Suicide in the black community is a serious issue and we need to stop sweeping it under the rug.
If you've had suicidal thoughts or you've actually attempted suicide please, please get help! This is not the end. Always try to remember it's a bad day, not a bad life. God has a purpose for you!
Don't try to take matters into your own hands. Pray, and seek help. Call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or visit their website.
I love you and it does get better from here,
xoKenya
To read more about suicide among young black males click the links below.
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