When they see us

Mental health in the black community is the elephant that no one wants to acknowledge or talk about. its that one thing we allow to become extreme before we start talking about it, even when we talk about it there's always that taboo associated with it. Over the years society has seen black men as breadwinners, leaders of society, tough, strong and unemotional people. There are many misconcepts and toxic traits that society has used to describe a black man for who they are and who they should be. Many men are unhappy with the way they are depicted in the world and frustrated with old school ideas of masculinity. "Monna ke nku ha lle" which means a man doesn't cry is a phrase we were raised with to try and tell us that we must suck our emotions and man up. When they see us explores how it feels to be a black man living with depression and stigma in a society when a man cries or shows any sign of vulnerability is regarded as a weakness.