Black History Month SOS Compilation
Mentality always works to share the voices and experiences of all people in the mental health community. This February, we are looking back through our Speak Out Sunday archive to feature Black voices, which have too often been overlooked, ignored, and delegitimized in this community.
Kendrick Lamar: Often referred to as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Kendrick Lamar frequently talks about anxiety and depression in his songs. Kendrick reflects the reality of his life in his lyrics and instead of merely stating what he sees, Kendrick commentates on what he thinks is okay and what he thinks is wrong about his reality.
Dwayne Johnson: Everyone goes through hard times – from your peers, to your neighbors, and even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In a 2015 interview with Oprah, The Rock opened up about a spell of depression he faced in his twenties. As Johnson says, “hold on to that fundamental quality of faith. Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good.”
Solange: Solange rose into the spotlight after her successful album “A Seat at the Table” which reached number one on the billboard charts. In 2014, Solange revealed that she had been diagnosed with ADHD, not once but twice. She publicly talks about her ADHD and pours stories of depression into the album, but you always seem to leave the album with a sense of hope.
Jay Z: In 2018, the New York Time’s social magazine known as T released an article in which Jay Z opened up about his experience with therapy. As Jay Z told T magazine, “I learned so much from therapy. But the most important thing I got is that everything is connected.” With such pivotal and legendary artists like Jay Z starting to talk about mental health, hopefully we as a society can get closer to ending the stigma.
Mariah Carey: In an interview with People Magazine, singer-songwriter Mariah Carey revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in 2001, but back then, she “didn’t want to believe it.” Carey stresses that she’s “hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone.”
Michael B. Jordan: In preparation for his role as Killmonger in the extremely popular Black Panther film, actor Michael B. Jordan isolated himself from others for significant amounts of time and kept a “Killmonger Journal” which had significant effects on his mental health. This led Jordan to seek professional help, where he says that seeing a therapist was extremely helpful in making him feel like himself again and to help remove his mind from such a dark place.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: Utilizing numbers, words, bold colors, and abstract interpretations, legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat created social commentary about the experience of black bodies, power structures, and class disparity. He can be described as a genius. Enigmatic. An addict gone too soon.
Kevin Abstract: Kevin Abstract is the ‘leading man’ of American boyband Brockhampton, with his own solo music career on the side. As a gay, young, black man, Abstract discusses his own personal struggles with his race and sexuality in many of his songs. In opening up the conversation about mental health to the young people that make up most of Brockhampton’s fanbase, Abstract normalizes mental health struggles and empowers the American youth.
Simone Biles: Simone Biles is not only the first female gymnast to win four all-around titles at the World Gymanstics Championships, but she is also a powerful mental health advocate and role model. Her advocacy for therapy and her openness about ADHD and her past traumas makes Biles a role model for struggling kids and athletes alike.
Lizzo: In early 2020, singer-songwriter (and all around queen) Lizzo took to social media to discuss the mental health struggles that she has been dealing with for a long time. Through her openness with her fans, Lizzo reveals that while the truth can hurt, she uses these difficult moments as an opportunity to refocus herself.
Kobe Bryant: In a 2018 Why We Rise interview, Bryant emphasizes destigmatizing discussions and diagnoses involving mental health as “embarrassing” or “sign[s] of weakness.” Bryant says of this collective challenge: “It’s opening up and sharing that experience with others. That’s how you build a community of strength.” In honor of Kobe Bryant; in honor of Gianna Bryant; in honor of Sarah and Payton Chester; in honor of Christina Mauser; in honor of John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli; in honor of Ara Zobayan; and in honor of their families, friends, and loved ones, let’s share our stories.
Joe Budden: As a former rapper, Joe Budden expressed his battle with depression in his entire catalogue of albums, and he never shied away from including honest, vivid anecdotes about his various suicide attempts. Recently, however, Budden took to podcasting and now has a Spotify exclusive podcast in which he discusses hip-hop related news with an emphasis on artists’ rights and mental health.
Taraji P. Henson: Taraji P. Henson is an actress most famous for her roles as NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures and queen bee Cookie in the television series Empire. Through her success as an actress, she has participated in many opportunities to speak out for causes close to her heart, such as animal advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice. In addition to these, one of the most important issues to Henson is mental wellness, especially as it pertains to African-American communities.