Last September, I wrote a blog on What Recovery Means to Me to share the lessons I have learned and am still learning in my recovery process. One of the promises I made and kept was to return to college and finish my undergraduate degree. By the grace of my Higher Power and with a lot of determination, I re-enrolled at Temple University. The year was 2013, and I was back at TUUUUUUUU!!! However, I faced another roadblock. What will be my major? Do I finish my degree in African-American studies? Or do I listen to the suggestions I got while in rehab from my fellow 12-steppers, peers, and staff to pursue a degree in social work or psychology program? I had the right attitude, awareness, and temperament for such an undertaking. Decisions, decisions, decisions! Ultimately, I felt it was important to give back as an African-American man and continue my bachelor’s degree in African-American studies. As we celebrate Black History Month, I wonder if accurate teachings of African-American history can help heal the mental well-being of the African-American community.  In her book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, Dr. Joy DeGruy shares that post-traumatic slave syndrome is the cause of many of the “adaptive survival behaviors in African-American communities throughout the United States and [...]

In 1961, James Baldwin was asked by a radio host about being Black in America. “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious,” Baldwin said, “is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time and in one’s work.” Racism takes a huge toll on one’s mental health. Racism affects how people operate in the workplace, at home, and in social settings. In my 20’s, racism caused me to be an angrier person. If I knew I would have to be in a room where I was the only person of color, I would drink to delude myself into believing I was in a safe space. Racism has the tendency to make you feel as though you can’t compete in certain spaces. When you finally decide that you can compete, you work 10 times harder to be seen as equal, often being overly critical and judgmental of yourself which sometimes causes you to revert to the mindset that you are not good enough.  One of the most helpful things I found is to realize we all suffer from unconscious biases and in some situations give people grace that they may not be aware of what they did or said that had a negative effect on you. What do I do in that situation? [...]