Mental Health and the Black Man in America

According to Dr. Angela Davis "The impact of the vast prison industry, this prison-industrial complex, on other institutions in our society is such that if we only focus on ending mass incarceration, we may forget that our schools, particularly in schools in poor communities, poor communities of color, reflect the impact of the prisonization of our society."  Maany psychologist argue that the prison system coupled with the impact of chattel slavery has created a plethora of mental conditions that impacts Black Males throughout America today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third cause of death among African-American males between ages 15 and 24, behind homicide and accidents. And while suicide rates among Black men are lower than their white counterparts, our rates have gone up dramatically. A report from the U.S. Surgeon General found that from 1980 to 1995, the suicide rate among African-Americans ages 10 to 14 increased 233 percent, as compared to 120 percent of whites. Not to mention the suicide rates of Black men are four times higher than Black women.  Is there a connector between Dr. Davis thesis, the report from the CDC and the 400 plus years of chattel slavery as it relates to Black Men today and their mental health?

Todays preogram will address these concerns plus issues around "Post Traumatic Slave Disorder" as The Black Reality Think Tank seeks to understand the past, dissect the present and project a meaningful future.