2016 was the banner year for Black creatives in the entertainment industry. With HBO’s new hit series ‘Insecure’ and FX’s ‘Atlanta’, it is safe to say that 2017 has “ Black Excellence” written all over it. Creator Issa Rae explores love, relationships and mental health with a dab of comedic relief. Donald Glover accurately depicts how illness is handled as a criminal justice issue rather than a mental health issue amongst Black men. With humor and grace, they touch on topics that often get kicked under the rug. In an age where representation is vital, shows like “Queen sugar” have challenged our views on masculinity and homophobia, all while shedding light on real life situations in the Black community.
“What specifically makes this era of black films so important is not simply the mere presence of black actors but also our representation behind the scenes.” Mike Mosley, The Grio.
In an episode of Insecure, Molly tells Issa about a mutual friend she ran into who had been glowing with happiness. She shares with Molly that the reason behind her new attitude was her amazing therapist. Molly laughs it off and shares with Issa that the idea of a shrink was in fact absurd. Despite Molly’s jabs at her old friend, Issa hints that it doesn’t sound like a bad idea for Molly.
This is an issue that has deeply affected the Black Community. There’s a stigma about mental health issues. The fear of being perceived as being weak discourages many from talking about it and most treat it like a myth. There remains a mistrust of the medical field. The lasting effects of low quality health care have left the Black community skeptical and as a result, many Black patients do not trust physicians, let alone psychiatrists. According to The National Alliance on Mental illness, Black people are more susceptible to depression, Suicide, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to systematic opression.
Yes, mental health is difficult to discuss, but it’s just as real off the screen, than it is on-screen. So instead of laughing it off with a friend, let’s talk about it.