Rosebud: Mental Health in the Black Community
"Woman power / is / Black power / is / Human power / is / always feeling / my heart beats / as my eyes open / as my hands move / as my mouth speaks / I am / are you / Ready."
— Audre Lorde
In honor of Black History Month, Rosebud shares about mental health. Find her on Instagram at @rosebudthewriter, where she shares about Black culture & identity, relationships, self-love, and more.
A conversation between Rosebud and Narisma
Hi Rosebud! Thanks for graciously agreeing to speak with me. February is recognized as Black History Month in the US. It is an observance of important Black historical figures and they influence they’ve had on politics, society, and Black discourse. Do you think this is significant or necessary, and why?
When speaking on the necessity of black history month, an African proverb always comes into mind: "until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero". When it comes to figures in our history, whether past or present, our story is always being told by the white race, which I have always found so misleading and unfair. I believe black history is a necessity not only to our people, but to everyone, because it's a time dedicated to shining a light on black culture and achievements, which are too often ignored the rest of the year.
Mental health isn’t often discussed in the context of minority groups. Why do you think mental health is so stigmatized, specifically within the Black community?
Mental health in the black community is so stigmatised within the black community because it’s seen as a weakness or something only white people go through. Speaking from experience I’ve seen black children, especially black boys, grow up in an environment that constantly preaches “men aren’t supposed to cry”. With that statement alone it enforces the idea that crying is unnatural and it’s not okay to ask for help. Certain black parents come from a background where mental health isn’t really pin pointed nor is it addressed therefore when they start having families of their own and the same generational issues of mental health comes along it is often disregarded.
Who are Black figures (either past or present) that have had an impact on your identity as a Black person?
A black figure or figures that has impacted my identity as a black person I would have to say are black female writers like Maya Angelou, Malorie Blackman, Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde and Alice Walker. As a little girl, I was never encouraged to become a writer because I was told that there weren’t much black female writers and it affected my perception. If me, a simple black girl from London, could ever inspire others and become the next big thing. With the writers I have stated I found myself inspired to disregard my fears and pursue something that I know one day a little black girl from south London who has dream of pursuing writing can be exposed to writers like myself, that’s the power of representation.
On your main Instagram page (@rosebudthewriter), you often share writings (both from you and others) about mental health. Would you mind telling me a bit more about your personal experience with mental health?
Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I struggled a lot with my mental health. From panic attacks, social anxiety, depression and self-harm. Till this day I still struggle I go through a lot of dark phases that affect my functioning. It’s only now I’ve actually plucked up the courage to get help for my mental health.
On the aforementioned Instagram page, you also post about music, films, and television shows that have to do with the experience of Back people. How do you think Black identity is portrayed in mainstream media? Are there any misconceptions?
I feel like there is a cliché when it comes to black people being portrayed in media. The modern stereotypes I have seen in black films/tv shows are very repetitive e.g. drug addicts, drug dealers, baby mother, gangster, stripper, angry black woman, unintelligent and athlete. All these stereotypes give a wrong impression of the black community as a whole; people tend to ridicule us or put us in those boxes stating that those are the things we have to be as there is no other option for us.
In relation to the previous question, how do you think mainstream media about Black people portrays mental health (if at all)?
I don’t think there is much portrayal of mental health in the black community within the media. Let’s talk about the popular series 13 reasons why: there’s a perception that black children don’t go through such emotion because we have nothing to be sad about. In turn, media consumption negatively affects the public’s understandings and attitude related to black people including black males.
How do you think we can advocate for mental health and celebrate Black heritage at the same time?
I think knowing that one person especially a famous black figure has gone through/ going through such hardship it can change a lot of people’s opinions regarding mental health and also give aid on how to deal with it. Representation is key and it matters.
What are your thoughts on the future of discussion of mental health within the Black community?
The future of discussion of mental health within the black community would have to start mainly with the youth and once the youth is aware, the parents would be aware so it’s a positive domino effect. Once you teach one person it goes onto the next and the next. I feel like a realistic portrayal of blackness and mental health would go a long way and it would educate a lot of people.
Do you have any plans for the future of your writing and activism? If so, what are they?
I am currently doing a creative writing degree and I have one more year left, I am currently working on something that is near and dear to me. I’m not really going to disclose it until it is completed and I’m comfortable to share it with the world. Rosebud will one day be worldwide, in the words of Tupac Shakur “I’m not trying to rule the world nor am I trying to change the world I’m trying to spark the brains that’s going to change the world”. I am trying to speak life into others especially the black community.