08:15 min
CLEAR ALL
Lee Wong, an Asian-American and former soldier, lifts his shirt to reveal scars he sustained while serving with the US military. Wong, 69, an elected official in West Chester, Ohio was speaking in a town hall meeting about the racism he has faced in his adopted homeland.
African Americans volunteered in large numbers for the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. For some, the color line among troops blurred quickly in battle, but many still faced discrimination when they returned home.
This veteran’s mic was turned off after he started talking about the Black history of Memorial Day.
Members and Veterans of the US Armed Forces have unacceptably high suicide rates. Why? It’s not the combat experience like one would suggest, but a much more complex issue that needs to be talked about.
Shame is at the intersection of individual psychology healing and social change. Clinically, when we follow the path of our shame, we experience the greatest healing, and culturally, when we move past the power of shame we can act together to improve civil rights for all.
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Spoken word meet social critique in this power piece exploring the cyclical nature of mental health challenges within the black community.
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Did you know that in the United States, over 10.3 million adults have serious thoughts of suicide and/or battle with mental health struggles privately while continuing to produce and perform publicly? Imagine living with a constant, lingering private struggle, while performing in front of the world.
No matter what the world is telling us, if our internal story of what’s occurring has to do with being victimized, then we suffer. The willingness to tell the truth about who you are, is the willingness to no longer be a victim, regardless of circumstances.