I named the organization after my father because of his complete and unconditional love for me; his unabashed, unashamed ability to tell the truth, even if it hurt; and his strength to push through his own battles with mental health issues. My dad fought in The Vietnam War for our country, returned broken, and received little to no physical and emotional support. I stand in his absence, committed to offering support to African Americans who face trauma daily, simply because they’re black.

BLHF is breaking the silence by speaking out and encouraging others to share their challenges with mental illness and get the help they need. African-Americans have regarded such communication as a sign of weakness and our vision is to change that perception. I ask you to join me on this journey. This is our legacy. This is our chance to make a difference. Together, we will break the silence and break the cycle!

-Love,

Taraji P. Henson

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African Americans believe that if we hold our suffering in, the feelings that plague us will go away. Asking for help is the last thing on our minds. Confiding in someone other than God is almost sacrilegious. So where does one go for help? When you mention the idea of therapy to a person of color, we almost always respond with resistance and disdain. There are many reasons for these attitudes. Often, we are asked to seek help from someone who does not look like us, who cannot relate to our stories. We fear we are seen, but not heard because the listener cannot relate to our problems. But, the ability to relate to one another helps us feel understood, helps us to heal. How does one do that if we are branded before we even speak? Too many times our concerns, our issues, are ignored because, again, the listener cannot relate to our history, our struggles, our lives. African Americans are misdiagnosed and under treated more than any other population in the country. Some practitioners believe that what we Black Americans experience is simply part of our “condition”. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.

People trust who they know and what they know. Having an African-American or culturally competent therapist gives way to the idea of “opening up”. When one can relate to and understand your issues, you feel safer and more comfortable asking for help. Silence, for Black people must end. We want to provide a safe environment for African Americans to discuss their concerns in a space where they will not be persecuted or misunderstood. Culturally competent therapists are an integral step on a long journey to self actualization. If we want to heal, we must speak up, speak out, and share our stories. It is about time. Everyone wants to be heard, and more importantly, understood.

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Many African-American students are penalized and labeled as “troubled kids”. These same students have likely experienced major traumatic events in their lives that have affected their ability to focus, communicate, or perform under pressure. Just because a child stares off while a lesson is being taught, does not necessarily mean that he/she is not interested or doesn’t grasp the concepts introduced. It could be that his brother was murdered last night and he has to figure out the best route home so that he does not lose his own life, too. These are real challenges that students deal with daily. Therefore, therapy in schools is so important that it should be as much a part of the curriculum as English, Math and Science. In failing to acknowledge our children’s lived experiences, we are unconsciously failing them. We must give them the support they need if we want them to successfully navigate the terrain that is growing up Black in America.

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