Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

Today, I am sitting here thinking about a quote from an article featuring Viola Davis. "I get a gag order placed on me. They didn't want to see your liberation. They don't want to see your mess. They don't want to see you." And I realized that it took her to reach a certain point before she could admit these truths to the world and to herself. She also mentioned how much time had been wasted hiding behind people's expectations and by staying in a box. I say fuck that! Yesterday, I was reminded that my self worth is vital. It is important that I remember and acknowledge who I am to me. Not who I am because I have done this or because I know a certain person, and not even because I have this amount of education. I am important simply because, I am. Many of us need to be reminded of that so that we don't hand over our dreams to dream killers, and so we never forget who we are. Even when love has been stripped away and you feel a sense of darkness surround...

Lately, there has been a push for mental health in the Black community. This is not a trend. It’s not even a fancy hashtag. It is actually as important as what you put into your body and how you nurture your spirit. Unfortunately, the Black community has every right to distrust Western medicine. There is a historical legacy of abuse and testing on Black and Native bodies that predates slavery. And continued as late as the 1970s in our prison systems and local clinics. But, mental health issues like depression, PTSD, addiction, schizophrenia and more exist, and they often go undiagnosed in the same communities that have been abused. The question and dilemma is how do we seek therapies that will benefit us and actually help without being guinea pigs. First, I truly believe that the combination of western and eastern practices in our communities would be beneficial. Acupuncture along with traditional therapy can actually alleviate episodes of anxiety and stress related disorders. When y...