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Young Black Men Suffering in Silence A curse that can be Broken

Published

1 month ago

August 27, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

By Dominic Boston

As a young Black man, this topic is personal to me.

When people discuss mental health, they usually don’t picture someone who looks like me. Instead, Black men are often seen as strong, tough, or able to handle anything life throws at us.

Growing up, I was taught exactly that.

My elders always told me to be strong. If I got hurt, I was told to get back up. If I was upset, I was told not to cry. Showing emotion wasn’t encouraged. It was seen as a weakness.

Looking back now, I realize I wasn’t just being taught how to be a man. I was being conditioned to hide my emotions. I was taught to believe that strength meant staying silent, no matter how much pain I was carrying.

I know my family wasn’t trying to hurt me. They wanted me to survive in a world that has never been easy for Black men. They wanted me to be prepared for life’s challenges.

But somewhere along the way, being strong became confused with pretending everything was okay.

Instead of talking about our feelings, we learned how to bury them. Instead of asking for help, we learned how to deal with everything on our own.

The problem is that emotions don’t disappear just because you ignore them. They stay with you, and eventually, they find another way to come out.

I believe that is the reality for many young Black men today.

We’re expected to carry the weight of our families, our communities, our schools, our work, and our lives without ever breaking down. People admire our strength, but they rarely ask how much it costs to always be strong.

The truth is, many of us are hurting in silence because we’ve spent our entire lives believing that is what real men are supposed to do.

For many Black boys, those lessons start early.

Some grow up in neighborhoods where hearing gunshots or seeing police lights is normal. Others lose friends or family members before they are even old enough to understand why. Some are raised in communities where violence, poverty, and limited opportunities are part of everyday life.

When you’re constantly worried about making it home safely or helping your family make ends meet, you don’t always have time to process your emotions.

You focus on surviving.

Then there is the way society sees us.

Before some people even hear us speak, they have already made assumptions. Many Black men know what it feels like to be watched while shopping, stereotyped because of the clothes they wear, or judged simply because they are Black.

On top of that, many of us grow up having conversations with our parents about how to act if we are ever stopped by the police.

We aren’t taught those lessons because our parents don’t trust us. We are taught them because our parents are afraid of what could happen if someone else doesn’t see our humanity.

Living with that kind of pressure affects your mental health, whether people realize it or not.

Constantly feeling like you have to prove you are not a threat is exhausting. Always feeling like you have to be perfect just to be treated fairly takes a toll.

Those experiences create anxiety, fear, and stress that many young Black men carry every single day, even if they never talk about it.

I also think these experiences help explain why some young Black men feel disconnected from politics and voting.

If you have spent your whole life watching your community struggle no matter who is in office, it is easy to believe that your vote won’t change anything.

You see schools that need more resources, neighborhoods that deserve more investment, and communities asking for change year after year. After a while, some people stop believing anyone is listening.

But I also believe that is exactly why voting matters.

The people we elect make decisions about education, mental health funding, affordable housing, community programs, healthcare, and criminal justice. Those decisions directly affect neighborhoods like mine and families like mine.

If we want things to change, we can’t sit back and expect someone else to make those choices for us.

Our voices matter, and our votes do too.

One of the biggest changes that needs to happen is the way we talk about mental health.

We have to stop teaching young Black boys that crying makes them weak. We have to stop acting like asking for help is something to be embarrassed about.

Real strength isn’t pretending you’re okay when you’re not.

Real strength is being honest enough to say you’re struggling and courageous enough to ask for help.

As I continue growing into the man I want to become, I’m learning that strength and vulnerability can exist at the same time.

I can be determined, hardworking and resilient while still being honest about my emotions. I don’t have to carry everything by myself, and neither does the next generation of young Black men.

It’s time we change the conversation.

Instead of only telling young Black boys to be strong, we should also tell them it’s okay to cry.

It’s okay to talk.

It’s okay to heal.

Because when we create a generation of men who feel safe expressing themselves, we aren’t making them weaker. We are giving them a better chance to live healthier, happier lives.

And that is the kind of strength our communities have needed all along.

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Young Black Men Suffering in Silence A curse that can be Broken

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HE SAID, HE SAID, HE SAID: Losing What I Never Had: Uncovering My Authentic Self —9.25.26 7PM ET

Discover your authentic self. Join us live Friday, Sept. 25, 7 PM ET for “He Said, He Said, He Said” with Dr. Raphael C. Heaggans.

Published

23 hours ago

September 25, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Three Black men in suits speak at podiums, implying a discussion of differing perspectives.

Tune in Friday, September 25, 2026 @ 7pm EST for the special encore presentation of “He Said, He Said, He Said Live!” A Look at the World from a Seasoned Black Man’s Perspective for “Losing What I Never Had: Uncovering My Authentic Self” with special guest author, Dr. Raphael C. Heaggans

Dr. Raphael C. Heaggans is a Special Education Administrator at Prince George’s County Public Schools and author of several works, including his popular books, “Diversity and Triumphs of Navigating the Terrain of Academe: International Perspectives”, and “The 21st Century Hip-Hop Minstrel Show: Are We Continuing the Blackface Tradition?” offering a critique of hip hop and shows how hip hop often serves as a tool of oppression that perpetuates historically negative images and messages about people of African descent. His new book, “Losing What I Never Had: Uncovering My Authentic Self”, Dr. Heaggans calls this work his story of courage — loosely based on his life as a survivor of sexual abuse from his biological religious father. It captures the process of forgiving and encourages the readers to walk in the identity in which they have been divinely called.

He Said, He Said, He Said proudly welcomes Dr. Heaggans for an up-close and intimate conversation about his book and a rarely visited topic on the impacts of religious trauma on Black, Gay, and Christian men.

As always, your presence and participation make the show even better! We will respond to your questions in real time.

New Episodes of “He Said, He Said, He Said” – Live stream Fridays, 7 p.m. EST on all these links:
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BlackPressUSA

Washington Informer's video on voter education about homeownership, showing diverse people looking at a house.

Friday, September 25 from NOON to 1 P.M., Let’s Talk on WIN-TV brings you conversations packed with information you can use!
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Doulas Are Helping Black California Moms Navigate Pregnancy–Even as High Mortality Rates Persist

In California, Black women experience the highest pregnancy-related mortality rate — about four times greater than other women, according to statistics. From 2021 to 2023, the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths included cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, hemorrhage, sepsis, amniotic fluid embolism, and pulmonary embolism.

Published

2 days ago

September 24, 2026

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Long Beach resident Cassandra Carter approached the birth of her daughter, Nyomi (pictured), last November with anxiety after losing twins. She is pictured here with her husband.

By McKenzie Jackson, California Black Media

After losing twins, Long Beach resident Cassandra Carter approached the birth of her daughter, Nyomi, last November with anxiety. She wanted support for herself and her husband, Adewole, that extended beyond routine medical care.

“Getting pregnant as a Black woman, I wanted a team around me that made me feel safe,” she said. “I know all about the mishaps that Black women experience.”

Carter, a therapist and self-described hippie, hired Yvette Perry, a doula and co-founder of Divine Birthing Services LLC in Lancaster. Perry helped Cassandra craft a detailed birth plan.

“I was worried about postpartum depression. Mrs. Yvette knows a lot about how postpartum affects men as well,” Carter explained.

Perry was present the day Nyomi was born. She held the baby when Carter or her husband needed a moment and even set up candles in the birthing suite.

“Whatever I needed for my comfort, she was there,” Carter said of Perry. “She was there as an advocate and voice. I had a really serene birthing experience because I had someone extra who wasn’t tied to me as my family.”

Perry, a doula for nearly six years, said preexisting conditions, poor communication and dismissive hospital care heighten health risks for Black mothers.

“Sometimes, Black mommies are not being heard. They don’t know they have rights. They don’t know they can say, ‘no,’” Perry explained. “Doulas empower them. We are there to educate them.”

Perry’s concerns reflect a broader public health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2024 maternal mortality report, non-Hispanic Black women in the U.S. died from pregnancy-related causes at a rate of 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births.

In California, Black women experience the highest pregnancy-related mortality rate — about four times greater than other women, according to statistics. From 2021 to 2023, the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths included cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, hemorrhage, sepsis, amniotic fluid embolism, and pulmonary embolism.

The Centering Black Mothers in California report found that structural racism — including barriers to high-quality health care, and chronic stress— disproportionately harms Black women.

In a statement to California Black Media (CBM), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said maternal mortality disparities stem from multiple factors. The department said addressing structural racism, listening to Black women’s experiences and reducing provider bias are key to closing the gap.

California began covering doula care as a Medi-Cal benefit in 2023, providing eligible patients with support during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, according to CDPH.

Whitney Dotson of Inglewood wanted an expert on pregnancy, labor, and delivery to guide her and her husband, Anthony, through the birth of their son, Anthony III. So, she hired Perry for doula support.

“It’s always more comfortable when you can have a second opinion,” she said. “Knowing she was better versed in what the options were, made me more comfortable.”

Dotson, 39, had a healthy pregnancy but faced recommendations common for expectant mothers over 35. Her doctor advised inducing labor at 39 weeks, but she hoped to carry to full term.

“I wasn’t comfortable with that,” she admitted.

Perry provided Dotson with information about induction guidelines and alternatives, helping her understand her options and communicate her preferences.

Then, Dotson returned to her doctor.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to — and this is why,’” she recalled. “He agreed and pushed the induction date back a week.”

Perry also advised Anthony on how he could support his wife during and after the pregnancy and during Anthony III’s birth. She also reminded Dotson to change birthing positions — from her back to her hands and knees.

Before Saveneh Martinez became a doula with Fierce Advocates in Contra Costa County, she was a new mom, uneducated on aspects of birth, which led to her first child, Colton, being placed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“I didn’t know my choices,” she said.

Martinez called it “lifesaving” for expecting moms to have a doula.

“It should be a medical right,” she said.

California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) Senior Associate Medical Director Kimberly D. Gregory said research suggests that doulas decrease the pre-term birth rate and the likelihood of a C-section.

“Having a doula is a proactive thing to do,” she said.

Efforts are being made across the state to reduce maternal deaths.

CDPH’s Title V Action Plan aims to reduce pregnancy-related deaths among Black birthing mothers from 49.7 to 42.3 per 100,000 live births by 2030 through improvements in patient-centered care, expanding community-based perinatal teams, and addressing the social factors that contribute to poor maternal health outcomes.

CDPH’s Black Infant Health (BIH) Program and Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) have already begun to make headway.

“BIH’s prenatal group model improves key intermediate outcomes for participants, including increased social support and empowerment, better stress management, reduced depressive symptoms and gains in health knowledge and behaviors such as safe sleep practices and reduced smoking,” the CDPH told CBM.

“PEI’s early implementation results show progress across several participant-reported areas, such as improved birth experiences, breastfeeding initiation, and coparenting skills among fathers and partners,” the CDPH statement continued.

Gregory said the California Pregnancy Associated Review Committee examines maternal deaths and develops guidelines to help hospitals improve care. One of its main recommendations focuses on how hospitals respond to hemorrhaging, a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths.

Gregory said CMQCC also created standard clinic care practices for cardiovascular disease and sepsis, two more drivers of maternal mortality, but widespread implementation across the state is pending.

She noted that although there are 800 maternal deaths a year in the U.S., there are also 3.6 million births.

“Most people will do well,” she said. “But you should know about complications like preterm birth. You should know about complications like diabetes, preeclampsia and postpartum depression.”

Martinez said doulas help to make birthing the transformative experience that it is, instead of a routine clinical transaction.

“Being able to feel heard, seen, safe, respected, and just being able to create spaces for them to be held as well,” she said.

Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

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