Category Archives: Black men

Trash TV: Iyanta and DMX Interview

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After painstakingly giving in, I watched a recorded event my wife thought would be interesting. It was with one of my favorite rap artists DMX and an entertainer named Iyanta. I never heard of Iyanta and was not interested in the interview or interviewer. However, after observing some of its content, I can categorically state, she is ill-equipped to diagnosis clinical depression or addiction. For this reason, the interview was a sham. The producers and Iyanta exploited an obvious ill individual for commercial gains. Sadly, in the Black community, some will cheer this exploitative slice of ‘weird TV’. Our community accepts most anything as authentic if we become emotional, feel pity, or want to pray. However, the interview on DMX by Iyanta was trash TV. Mental illness and addiction is no entertaining matter. I’m not sure if “X” suffers from either, nonetheless, Iyanta, lacks a professional background to diagnosis it. She did more harm than good, and only for ratings.

Mental illness and addiction has rampaged communities across America. However, in the Black community the epidemic has gone viral long ago. I suffered for over 18 years with depression and addiction. I know the terror and thoughts of suicide. It was the hardest battle in my life faced mostly alone. Beyond my wife, children, and Rod Davis, no one could bring sunlight into the darkness. Again, I cannot say what DMX suffers from, but the symptoms he displayed while exploited were hurricane-warning signals. This interview should never have occurred. His taking advantage of was an attempt to keep a struggling entertainment mogul afloat (Oprah Winfrey). Sadly, the effort also sends the message that mental illness and addiction needs only a pep talk, and reconciliation with a love one. This production was an act of betrayal. DMX’s representative should charge Iyanta, with an intelligence malpractice suit if they cared about his health and awareness.

In the Black community mental illness and depression remains under the most ineffective institution in Black culture: The Black Church and its representatives. It is common for Black women to beg depressed and dysfunctional men to seek help from unqualified clergypersons. Yes, send them to people who lack any trace of formal education in mental diseases. This is a horrible mistake to send depressed individuals to a church representative untrained in the field. On the contrary, the Black church can help by suggesting individuals to seek professional help. In so much, Iyanta, Kirk Franklin and any other entertainers must shut their damn mouth on the issue. These half-baked tricksters must scurry back to their dwellings or obtain an academic education in the field. Either way, please let my people go.

The worse statement from Iyanta was when she said to DMX, “Don’t you know you’re a vessel of God”. I nearly lost it; what does mythical propaganda have to do with a possible mental illness and addiction diagnosis? This freak show exhibition eventually turned my stomach and I turned away from it. Sadly, numerous Black men and women may suffer from undiagnosed mental disease and addiction. Thousands are attempting to cope with the horrors of comorbidity; some make it, and many do not. We do know however, 95% of all suicides the person was suffering from depression at the time. With this knowledge, we no longer can think Black preachers or some half-baked interviewer should attempt to diagnosis mental illness. Look at the statistics below and ask yourself who was helped in that interview.

Suicide Rates for African Americans, 1999-2010

• As with all racial groups, African American females were more likely than males to attempt suicide and African American males were more likely to die by suicide.

• From 1993 to 2002, the rate of suicide for African Americans (all ages) showed a small but steady decline. Since 2002, the rate has remained fairly flat, varying only between 4.9 and 5.2 per 100,000 annually.

• Suicide was the third leading cause of death among African American youth (ages 10-

19), after homicides and accidents. The suicide rate for this age group was 2.65 per 100,000 (n=196).

• Males accounted for the vast majority of African American elderly (65 and older) suicides.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Was Wrong to Hide Mental Illness

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xlargeThe absence of Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., from congress since May is causing quite a stir among his constituents, democrats, and republicans. It has now been revealed that the Illinois Congressmen is hospitalized for a mood disorder. If true, Jesse Jackson Jr. missed a great opportunity to help black males’ education on mental illness, specifically depression. In fact, it is safe to say, his actions have helped maintain the impenetrable stigma of mental illness. By the same token, depression is slowly decimated Black males and our time is running out to raise awareness.

According to the Office of the Surgeon General, depression is likely a key factor in a 233 percent increase in suicide in African-Americans males aged 10-14 from 1980 to 1995. Suicide was also the third leading cause of death for African-Americans in 2003. A serious weakness with most young African-American males is their lack of health insurance unlike Representative’s Jackson. As a result, uninsured young Black males overrun emergency rooms as their lives become unhinged and unmanageable. Like an unmanned freight train these young men wreak havoc in our communities from murder to total anarchy and our communities are under siege daily. Depression may not be the sole factor but I theorize it’s a contributing factor.

Ø 54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness.

Ø 41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help.

Ø 80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.

Ø 92% of depressed African-American males do not seek treatment.

Ø 15% of depressed people will commit suicide.

Ø Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 — and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.

Unfortunately, one of the limitations of the Black communities is to maintain the public secrets (i.e., AIDS, under education, fatherless homes). In other words, we do not openly talk about what everyone else can plainly see. Like Ostrich, we sink our heads in the proverbial sands of denial and stigmatization. We whisper our pray that it will go away. Sadly, our Christmas stocking provides only a lump of coal for our passive actions. Yet, we pray, but not for an awareness campaign on mental illness but for a better deceptive instrument.

In the interim, this brings me back to Representative Jackson; above all, he has unwillingly contributed to the stigma of mental illness. For the most part, young Black men need information on mental illness, unlimited stockpiles of literature on the disease. Black males need education on depression symptoms and treatment options. The Black community needs to stop hiding what’s in plain sight. Sadly, Jesse Jackson Jr., wasted an opportunity to provide knowledge and wisdom to brothers. On the contrary, his maneuver help continue to fuel that mental illness is to be kept from the public’s view. It is safe to say he has an aborted education on mental illness.

Many African American males are suffering from mental illness in silence. They hide in our communities in open public staggering from one episode to the next. Daily they walk by us dazed and confused beautiful souls screaming for external intervention. Yet our piousness display the frozen no vacancy sign to our brothers. At the same time, their intoxication brought on by depression has them locked inside a vault filled with only hopelessness.

In essence, we must bring these brothers the combination to their incarcerated consciousness. The silence on Black men and depression must be shattered once and for all. In brief, we must hold everyone feet to the fire to speak out about depression in the Black community…we must educate them. This means Jesse Jackson Jr., also, he needs an education on mental illness, along with treatment. My hopes are for a speedy recovery for him and his family.

The Invisible Dragon

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Trayvon Martin, Rockford, Ill Rally

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A 24-Year High on Black Unemployment Means that It’s Time to Wake Up

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Black unemployment shot up like a rocket during the month of August, rising from an abysmal 15.9 percent to an even more shocking 16.7 percent.  Much of the increase was driven by black male unemployment, which rose from 17 to 18 percent.  Black female unemployment remained steady at 13.4 percent, and black teen  unemployment experienced a dramatic increase from 39.2 percent to an astounding 46.5 percent…

One of the most telling signs of racial inequality in America is the fact that African Americans are not only subjected to the very worst economic circumstances in the country, but we are also not allowed to be upset about it.

Read Complete Story: Here

Should We Fight the Power?

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I am concluding my masters’ degree requirements this summer and I thought to include some conversations from our online sections.

Rebecca and I are classmates in a final course for my Ms.Ed., this summer.  I thought it would be cool to blog some of our discussions.  I respect Rebecca’s intuitiveness and her willingness to challenge status quo.  She has been involved with marginalized groups (e.g., Blacks, women, Latinos) learning education for some time in her professional career.  In fact, we are both reading instructors in the College Learning Enhancement Program (CLEP) at Northern Illinois University. The class is Nature of Adult and Higher Education and is guided by Dr. Karen Haley,

(Robert) The assumptions of postmodernism (e.g., Multicultural, learning-centered, informal experiences) considering gender and racial statuses are attractive as teaching modules.  While I do not see learners as agents for social change, I do however value collaborative learning for the non-majority members, specifically African-American males.  The tenet of ‘Caring’ is extremely important to marginalized groups in higher education.  I find this principle in line with my belief in Humanism and culturally responsive teaching curriculum.  Thus, each component together along with other variables (e.g., self-directed learning, self-actualization, and resiliency) provides a more Holistic learning experience for college-aged Black males.

(Rebecca) Hi Rob. Do you really not see learners as agents for change? You’ve spoken often about changing the landscape of education for African-American males, surely your approach is empowering and does have the potential to bring about change. I think all students are agents for change. Every life we touch brings about change!

(Robert) Dr. Vaughn (To Be) I knew this would stir your hornet’s nest.

I believe students should choose their paths and not follow a pre-package societal bucket list.  In other words, if one chooses to help create social change through teaching that’s fine, I am on such a path.  Nevertheless, I am not leading or suggesting every adult should follow my journey.  The philosophy that “All” students should aspire___________ (Fill in the blank) creates followers not leaders.  New Flash!!! You Should Be Who You Are!!!

Social change is just that social.  If a movement arises and one feels the urge to make a different I commend them.  However, African-American males are responsible for their conscious transformation first and foremost.  If they decide to involve themselves in a mass incarceration anti-movement for example that’s great, if not, that’s great also.  No person has the right to judge one by their civic, gender, or racial advocacies or non-involvement thereof.  (Although I find myself during this more than I would admit)  My teaching philosophy encourages self-actualization not a ‘Drum Beat’ of my definition of a life worth living.  In fact: No one shall submit an outline of life’s activities as a precursor to cultural and social standards.

If you sit alone upon a rock…you are there

If you rail for social justice…you are there

You are who you could have become thus

potentials aren’t worth a damn

Life Exist With or Without You

Be Yourself….

cheers,