Ready to Die: Suicidal Thoughts Among Young, Black Males

I learned some devastating news several hours ago. Randy Parker, the son of the great MC/teacher/activist KRS-One died in an apparent suicide. I was basically raised on the music and teachings of KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions. I considered KRS-One to be one of Hip-Hops greatest MCs and I have immense respect for him. My condolences goes out to him, his wife and his entire family.

This tragedy compelled me to write about suicide and depression among young black males. I have gone through bouts of depression in my life. I didnt grow up poor but I was raised by a hard-working single mother who struggled at times to provide for me during a significant portion of my childhood. Ive battled feelings of anger, bitterness and hatred toward my father for as long as I can remember. That, along with other experiences in my life, made me depressed, even suicidal at times.

I never talked much with anybody about my periods of depression. I kept my feelings bottled up inside of me. On the surface I was a normal every day guy but deep down I was suffering. Being young, black and male, I always felt that I had to be strong, I had to be tough. Though its never stated, it seems like common knowledge in the black community that black men dont get depressed, right? In spite of the struggles, due to both physical environment and/or psychological issues, were still just too cool and too tough to ever actually consider suicide, right?

Wrong.

Depression and suicide is real within the lives of black men. There needs to be more discussion and outreach around these issues that are devastating and cutting short the lives of many black men. Depression and suicide are yet two more issues that can be exposed and explored through the medium of Hip-Hop music and other forms of Hip-Hop expression.

Suicidal Thoughts by the late, great Notorious B.I.G. is a personal, vivid and brilliant song about a young black man, surrounded by poverty, who battles with his inner demons, contemplating suicide. Notorious B.I.G. was a masterful storyteller and the experiences and feelings that he rhymes about in Suicidal Thoughts may be a work of fiction and yet they are very real for many of us.

When you think about the epidemics that young black males face; crime and severe punishment, lack of quality education, lack of employment opportunities, racism, discrimination, racial profiling, police brutality, animosity and resentment by or directed toward black women and the older generation, growing up fatherless, absent from their own childrens lives, the battle with self to do good versus evil, AIDS, drugs, violence..

It seems highly probable to find young black males all over America who are depressed and suicidal!

The tragic suicide of the son of one of Hip-Hops greatest and most respected MCs gives the Hip-Hop generation an opportunity to bring awareness to the issue of depression and suicide by young black & brown males (and females) who grow up within Hip-Hop culture. Hip-Hop has always told the often harsh realities of the lives of the youth. Hip-Hop can expose depression and suicide in the lives of its youth and more importantly it can contribute to ending despair, giving hope, and ultimately-saving lives before its too late.

Randy Hubbard Parker and to all of the other brothers who have struggled with depression and whose lives tragically ended far too soon.\r Rest in Peace.

Duane L. Lawton is a writer and avid Hip-Hop fan (especially Hip-Hop from the Golden Era). He lives in the Washington D.C. metro area. Visit http://DuaneLawton.com

Binge Drinking and Young Adults
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, binge drinking among full-time college students as well as young adults not enrolled in colle...

The FDA May Expand Warning Labels for Antidepressants
The FDA may expand warning labels for antidepressants because of fear increases in suicidal thoughts. The proposed changes were made public yesterday(...

Depression Hurts - Do You Recognize This Person?
Depression hurts. It hurts the person suffering and it hurts those that mean the most to them, including friends and family. Most people that have nev...

Psychotrophic Drug Warning
"FDA warns of suicide risk for Paxil"Do you remember where you were when the FDA ran this warning:MAY. 12 12:08 P.M. ET"The antidepressant Paxil may r...

7 Facts About Antidepressants the Pharmaceutical Companies Don’t Want You to Know
1) SSRIs cannot cure depression - Nor are they designed to. Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors are designed to block the bodys natural re-uptak...

Who Or What Are You Giving Your Power To?
My husband was still suffering from alcoholism. My teenage daughters were both suicidal, my mom (and best friend) was diagnosed with an incurable, un...

Psychotic Depression
People who suffer from psychotic depression often start seeing, or hearing hallucinations that can leave them frightened for their lives. Apparently, ...

How Safe is the Latest SSRI Drug on Children and the Elderly in the Treatment of Depression
SSRI drugs that is, drugs belonging to the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor class of drugs are used in the treatment of depression and general...

Don’t Take Bipolar Depression Lightly
While the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder is perhaps the most disturbing to those around the sufferer, it is actually the depressive phase of this dis...

Everyday Treatments for Depression
There are treatments for Depression that must be done everyday in order to get the most benefits from it. Not only will we discuss the Everyday treatm...

Nokia N95 Black 8GB Mobile Phone - The Most Popular Mobile Phone at Present After Nokia N95
If you want an example of true master class and a phone which is complete in itself I would say only one name and its Nokia N95 black. Black word does...

Black Belts Within A Company’s Structure
InvestmentThe immediate investment costs of training existing employees may be more than the monthly fees charged by an external Black Belt, but when ...

Say Good-Bye to the Symptoms of Depression - Why a Natural Treatment is Right for You!
You have been sad for the past weeks, months, and possibly years. You don't know if what you are suffering is simply a bout of the blues or depressio...

Effective Adolescent Depression Treatments
Adolescent Depression has some notable warning signs. It is very important if you suspect your adolescent child is depressed that you get help immedia...

Major Depression - What Drug Treatment is Available?
When you have depression - especially major depression - you will need to be under the treatment of a physician. Once you have started a treatment pr...