Terrie Williams did not just write a new book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting, she is boldly embarking on a crusade to save us from ourselves. Why? Because she knows that mental illness is something we just don't want to talk about. But when we don't talk about our hurts it can lead to depression and in some cases suicide. Oh, so you thought that was other folk's problem? No, suicide effects us the black community as well. Statistics from the National Institutes of Health confirm that African American dies by suicide every 4.5 hours each day in this country. Suicides are actually be discussed by some in our community after the alleged murder/sucide of a well-known black couple in Dallas last month.
Most of us may not consider suicide, but we probably have been depressed. And literally singing the blue may not snap us out of it (Although Dr. Alvin Poussaint says the genre of music was created to help us cope with oppressing and depressing times.) Black women have long put themselves at the end of their own to-do list (if they make the list at all) so it is easy to put your problems on the back burner. Williams is pushing, prodding and compelling us to face these problems head on.
Her desire runs so deep that if she is among a group of black women, she has them start sharing with their filters off (that means they are no longer worried about saying the right thing). And there is nothing more powerful than hearing us speak truthfully—even when we are admitting we need help.
So if you are in pain, read this book. And if you need help, seek it. This is the best gift we can give to ourselves.
Suicide in the Black Community Article
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