Dear Black Women:
Yes, you are queens. Yes, you are magical. Yes, you are strong and yes, you have a resilient heart that is capable of enduring pain and surpassing any struggle. But I want you to know that above all else, you are human, and mental health is a serious illness that does not discriminate. Despite popular belief, it is not a "white people problem," and our young black boys and young black girls are also susceptible to this growing epidemic consisting of physical and mental dysfunction and maladaptive behaviors. Mental illness has no remorse, and once it enters you, it will try to strip you of your crown and your strength will not be identified with how independent you are or how successful you become.
You will find yourself face-to-face with your weaknesses, and it is within those moments that you will find out what it really means to be strong, to be queen, to be magical. You will no longer be able to Band-Aid your wounds and keep it pushin'. You will find that having faith won't always feel like it's enough to get you through a manic episode. You will have some nights where your tears kiss your pillowcase, and that feeling of sadness is indescribable. You will show how strong you are by allowing yourself to weep. You will show how strong you are by speaking up and admitting to yourself that things are not OK; you are hurting, you are in pain and you are in need of help. You will uncover your wounds and allow the process of healing to begin by no longer keeping your problems a secret, but by giving your problems the proper treatment they need, whether it be therapy or finding a support group.
I want you to know that it is OK to struggle; it is OK for you to not have it all together, it is OK for you to feel weak and it is OK for you to admit to the universe that you can't do life on your own. Black women, your life is deserving of its best chance; please step out of your own way. I don't want you to be one of the African-Americans who die by suicide every 4.5 hours in the U.S. I want you to understand that suicide is the third leading cause of death for young black males ages 15-24; these are the young black talented men that we are raising.
We can no longer turn a blind eye to the subject of mental illness within our community. Studies show that 63 percent of African-Americans believe that depression is a personal weakness. The top-rated barriers to treatment for African-Americans are denial, embarrassment and shame.
I want you to know that you have nothing to be ashamed of. You are worthy, you are loved and your life is worth fighting for. As a black woman who has come face-to-face with my own mental health struggles, I understand that it is not easy, but taking the necessary steps to get to a place of whole-hearted living and healing will be the most rewarding thing you can do for your soul. You are queen, you are magic, but above all else you are human.
Take care of yourself.
With Love,
Minaa B.
