In honor of Minority Mental Health Month, two Guidance Center clinicians sat down together and had a hard conversation on the racial injustices the Black community endures. Today, we are sharing the last video in this three-part series. In part one, Angelina Palma-Williams, LCSW and Stevie McBride, LMFT shared their heart-felt emotions on these issues and how these conversations are not always comfortable, but important. If you missed part one, please click here to watch the video.
In part two, Angelina shared what it was like for her and her family to protest, and Stevie shared what it was like for him to watch the video of George Floyd’s death in the personal and emotional conversation. If you missed part two, please click here to watch the video.
In part three, you will hear from Stevie and how he has been taking care of his mental health during this time. He explains that he joined a group with more than 20 other Black men who get together (virtually) to talk, vent and express their emotions. “It was so powerful to see Black men who often have a stigma of what therapy is and what it means to vent and get all that stuff out,” said Stevie. “I don’t think, as a culture of Black men, we do that enough.”
He later goes on to say, “Every day, it’s a new day. You have to do what you have to do to maintain your sanity, to get you through the day.”
To conclude their conversion, Angelina shares what she believes people can do to become allies. “I love that this is a term that is really being defined now because, you know, having a Black friend or having diverse friends doesn’t necessarily make you an ally,” said Angelina. “It’s really about action.” And she goes on to share that it’s even more about “informed action,” which you can’t have without learning and educating yourself.
“While I appreciate the sympathy, I think it has to go beyond tears, and it has to go beyond, ‘I’m sorry,’ and it has to move into action and using your platform and using your privilege to create change,” she said.
You can hear more of their conversation by watching the video below.
*A special thank you to Eric Tucker (Vocals, Producer), Jay Vincent B (Vocals, Rapper), Whitney Porter (Vocals) and Stevie McBride (Songwriter) for providing the music for this video.
Resources:
If you would like to learn more, here are some recommended resources from staff:
Movies/Shows:
- 13th
- Just Mercy
- When They See Us
- When They See Us Now (Oprah Interview)
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Time: The Kalief Browder Story
Books:
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- Between the World and Me by Ta- Nehisi Coates
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi