In the wake of the awful tragedy that took place on Friday at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newton, Connecticut, the issue of treating individuals with various mental health disorders before they reach the point of insanity or causing harm to others in order to express their emotions, came up. The 20-year-old young man who massacred 6 adults and 20 innocent school children is being presented in the media as someone who had severe mental health issues and wasn’t stable. Due to this instability being untreated, he acted out in a heinous way that affected the nation. Why is it that when Blacks commit crimes they are labeled as thugs or a menace to society? Blacks suffer from mental illnesses as well, contrary to popular belief.
It seems as though the only time the issue of mental wellness comes up in the case of African Americans is when someone commits suicide, such as in the cases of Don Cornelius, music executive Chris Lightly and the recent murder/suicide news of Kansas City Chief’s linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend. That is when a conversation about the mental stability of Blacks and the lack of help they receive actually becomes a central issue. In all actuality, mental instability runs rampart in the Black community. The sad thing is that no one looks at the cause behind the action, but simply labels the convicted as having a troubled life or having a history of run-ins with the law. No one cares about what thought process that went on in that person’s head that led them to commit a crime. No one cares about this person’s home life, upbringing or possibly untreated mental illness. The labels are swift and quick without a second thought.
Blacks are hurting just as much as any other race, yet their problems are ignored. Depression is one of the biggest undiagnosed plagues facing the Black community. ” … researchers reported that 10.4 percent of African Americans, 12.9 percent of Caribbean blacks, and 17.9 percent of non-Hispanic whites had MDD at some point in life. However, among participants with depression, the rate of chronic depression was highest in black groups: 56.5 percent in African Americans and 56 percent in Caribbean blacks, compared with 38.6 percent in whites, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The efforts made to address this are few and far in-between. Every Black person who commits a crime isn’t just another statistic who should be treated as such. They have problems and suppressed emotions that have built up over time.
“Misinformation, an absence of trust in the system, racism and financial circumstances are some of the forces that can create barriers in making appropriate decisions about [Blacks] seeking treatment,” according to child psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Vinson.
It is sad that Blacks aren’t afforded the same level of understanding and diagnosis as their White counterparts. Mental illness is one of the things in life that doesn’t care about color. It can affect anyone, at any time and on any level. It kills me when it is obvious that a person who has committed a crime has deeper issues, but no one thinks to address them because of the color of his/her skin. In 2011, MSNBC reported that Psychologist Dustin Pardini of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that about four out of five kids who are delinquents as children do not continue to offend in adulthood.
It is not always as simple as those people are just a “product of their environment.”
This was the majority of my conversation over the weekend. When I think about those 20 babies gunned down, I do not see color. I just think about the sorrow of these parents burying their kids, then during the holidays. At the same time; if the same incident had taken place at an inner-city, (low income area) school, mental issue wouldn’t have been an issue. If so, other issues would have over powered the topic of blac men and mental issue.
Aside from race, I think there is also a socio-economic bias. You gave the examples of African Americans, citing suicide as the reason why their actions were deemed mental illness, but I think their celebrity statuses played a part in that as well. I’m seeing a pattern: “if the murderer was rich or raised in a upper class family, it must have been mental illness and a decision/force beyond their control. Yet, if you grew up in the ghetto, it’s because you are just a riot.” *smh* We have to stop categorizing… all people have battles, no matter race or income level.
@Em: EXCELLENT POINT!! It is as though having money should make a person happy and stable; in essence, if you have money or material comfort and you are still this violent, there must be a mental preoccupation
This is the basic premise seen in all societies. Rich = godlike, righteous and good. Poor = bad, dirty, evil.
I do know what you mean, but have you met a good thug? IMO, all thug behavior is an expression of mental instability to some degree. The range varies depending on many factors such as socialization, morals, values, brain chemistry, etc.
I think it’s time WE abandon the “when are we going to start talking about xyz” conversations and simply start talking about it, offer up solutions and champion the process — sink or swim. I love that you gave statistical info.
When we feel compelled about a subject matter, it’s time to tap into the creative force within all of us to TRY and come up with solutions in spite of our current level of power to influence or change it. A wise man once said (Al Sharpton) that it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about standing up and fighting.
I agree wholeheartedly that blacks who go out to commit murder are labled as thugs. The black on black crimes in the inner city of America has not and will not be seen as a mental health issue, simply thuggery is what these crimes are labeled as. However, this topic is more complex than race. Class, privilege, and the definition of mental health are all involved with the latest mass murder. I am currently in the middle of a facebook debate with a group of people who are quick to label the killer of the latest shooting as an individual with mental health issues whom would never have had the idea to kill if his illness was treated. I disagree, there’s more at play. This guy was selfish, like all murderers, and needed more than just the label of mentally ill. Americans are one of the most privilege individuals in the world with access to more necessities and wants than any other country. We need to own up to our ungrateful and selfish dispositions and seek other mediums to restore peace within ourselves.
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BLACK THUGS are much more VIOLENT than MUSLIMS!
MUSLIMS ARE GOOD PEOPLE!
BLACK THUGS KILL many more Innocent PEOPLE around the World than MUSLIMS!
FACT: BLACK THUGS KILL 40 AMERICANS (Including 18 White People) in the U.S. every single day and SERIOUSLY INJURE another 2,800 (Including 1,400 White People)!
FACT: MUSLIMS KILL fewer than 5-Americans in the U.S. annually!
The TRUTH about SCHOOL & COMMUNITY VIOLENCE!
BLACK THUGS who make up less than 3% of the U.S. population ARE COMMITTING 89% of the VIOLENT CRIMES, however, LIBURD GROUPS like the SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, along with NEWS PAPER ORGANIZATIONS like the NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES TIMES will Sic their ATTACK DOGS on you if you Simply Utter those “POLITICALLY INCORECT” but TRUTHFULL WORDS!
The SPLC should SUE the fatuous1 for DEFAMATION!
… especially if what MARK TRAINA is saying about them is UNTRUE!
The SOUTHERN POVERTY LGBT LAW SINNER is DEFINITELY a LEFTIST, ANTI-CHRISTAIN, ANTI-WHITE, ANTI-FAMILY VALUES GEOPOLITICAL HATE GROUP that supports ABORTIONS, GAY MARRIAGE, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, YOUNG BLACK THUGS, URBAN TERRORISTS, TINY TUPACERS, LITTLE TRAYVONS, STREET HUSTLERS and ENTITLEMENT LIFESTYLES!
FACT: The SOUTHERN POVERTY LGBT LAW SINNERS are nothing more than the LILY WHITE LYING LIBERAL JEW MEDIA’S “POLITICALLY CORRECT” LEGAL BULLIES AND POLITICAL WATCH DOGS!
… and if what I am Claiming ain’t the TRUTH the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING but the TRUTH, the SOUTHERN POVERTY LGBT LAW SINNERS should sue me for DEFAMATION because CRITICS like MYSELF can DEFINITELY DAMAGE their FUND RAISING EFFORTS!
I am actually trying to create a RIF over at the SPLC in Montgomery, Alabama and beyond.
FACT: The SOUTHERN POVERTY LGBT LAW CENTER puts TARGETS on People’s Backs, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE who DARE to SPEAK OUT AGAINST THEM LIKE ME and therefore, they should be FORCED by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to LIST the NAMES, PHONE NUMBERS, ADDRESSES, as well as, the AMOUNTS DONATED by each and everyone of their DONORS!
FACT: Mr. MORRIS DEES falsely claims to be running the America’s Largest Non-Profit Legal Agency, yet he is one of the RICHEST ATTORNEYS in NORTH AMERICA-sooOOOO MUCH FOR BEING A “NON-PROFIT”!
FACT: The SPLC’s “NON PROFIT” Status is SIMPLY another way for the “FILTHY RICH” like Mr. Morris Dees to avoid Paying his Fair Share of American Taxes!
fatuous1 says EFF the SOUTHERN POVERTY LGBT LAW SINNERS and the HORSE they Road in on!
QUESTION: How do you like them APPLES?
MARK TRAINA
FATUOUSCRA@AOL.COM
(504) 231-3056
CALL ME BYTCHES I’M READY TO DO A “MEET N GREET” in FEDERAL COURT.
FACT: I don’t need to hire a HIGH_PRICED ATTORNEY, because no one on PLANET EARTH can DEFEND the fatuous1 better than he can DEFEND Himself!
WARNING: To all the CHICKEN $HYT LGBT LAWYERS over at the SPLC-I have always REPRESENTED Myself in COURT and I have yet to LOSE a LEGAL DISPUTE!
FACT: If you LGBT LIBTARDS are still to EFFIN STUPID to realized what I am doing, I will state my state my Case in SIMPLIER TERMS, “I AM CHALLENGING YOU AZZOLES TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST LITTLE OLE fatuous1 ASAP!
FACT: If you “IDIOTS” were saying these same things about me, I would DEFINITELY SUE YOUR AZZEDS OFF!
FACT: You Guys DEFINITELY need to “LGBT LAWYER UP”!