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(Black Trauma and Mental Health Specialist | Prompt Eng | GPT Dev | Research Scientist | Africana Phenomenologist | Black AI Corsortim co-Founder | Black Mental Health Podcast Host)
In a powerful and illuminating conversation on the Black Trauma Podcast, host Reverend Dr. Philippe Shock Matthews sat down with Brentt Blackmon MFT, a rising voice in Black mental health care, to discuss the complexities of trauma, healing, and the unique challenges faced by the Black community in accessing mental health support. Their discussion reveals important insights about breaking generational cycles and creating pathways to healing.
The Weight of Inherited Trauma
“I don’t know one Black person on the planet that exists that does not have some form and some level of trauma. It’s impossible,” Matthews observes during the conversation. This stark reality sets the stage for understanding the depth of what Blackmon calls “intergenerational trauma” – trauma that passes from generation to generation, often unacknowledged and unaddressed.
Blackmon, drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, explains how this inheritance of trauma manifests: “A lot of times we forget… there are a lot of different things that happen in our communities worldwide, in our own hometowns, in our own nation that sometimes we don’t realize is just happening over and over again.” This cycle of trauma, often invisible to those experiencing it, becomes what he terms “generational amnesia.”
Breaking Through Cultural Barriers
One of the most significant obstacles to healing in the Black community is the cultural stigma surrounding mental health care. As Blackmon points out, many in the community have internalized messages like “what happens in this house stays in this house” and “snitches get stitches” – phrases that, while meant to protect, often serve to suppress necessary conversations about trauma and healing.
The discussion challenges these traditional barriers, with Blackmon emphasizing the importance of creating safe spaces for Black men to express vulnerability. “A lot of us don’t have a space where we can be in a space that’s nonjudgmental, where we can be open, where we can say whatever it is,” he explains. This observation highlights the critical need for culturally competent mental health care.
The Role of Education and Community
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the transformative power of education, particularly through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Blackmon shares his experience as a first-generation college student at Fort Valley State University, where he discovered academic knowledge and a deeper understanding of his cultural identity and potential.
“That’s where I really learned how Black I was,” Blackmon reflects. “I didn’t realize really how great of a community, how supportive, and just how much we have really done for a society.” This educational awakening becomes a crucial component in breaking cycles of trauma, as it provides tools for understanding and contextualizing personal and communal experiences.
The Importance of Group Healing
One of the most practical insights from the conversation is the value of group therapy and community support systems. Blackmon advocates for starting with group settings as a gateway to individual therapy, noting that this approach aligns with cultural values and can feel less threatening than one-on-one sessions.
“Being able to be a part of a black men’s mental health group… is just so powerful and empowering to be able to learn from other brothers who are experiencing the same thing,” he explains. This collective approach to healing provides not just support but validation and normalization of shared experiences.
Redefining Self-Care
The conversation takes an important turn in addressing self-care, moving beyond popular conceptions to something more fundamental and sustainable. Blackmon challenges the notion that self-care must be elaborate or expensive, instead emphasizing the importance of daily practices and awareness.
“Self-care is not just something that you do after work, before work, no, you do this continuously,” he explains. This can include simple activities like walking in nature, reading, or engaging in meaningful conversations. The key is finding activities that genuinely replenish rather than just temporarily distract.
The Path Forward
What makes this conversation particularly valuable is its blend of professional insight and personal experience. Blackmon’s journey from a child raised by grandparents in Georgia to a mental health professional in California offers hope and practical guidance for others seeking healing and growth.
The discussion emphasizes several key points for moving forward:
- The importance of acknowledging trauma rather than normalizing it as “just another Tuesday”
- The need for culturally competent mental health care providers who understand the unique experiences of the Black community
- The value of community support and group healing environments
- The recognition that healing is both personal and collective work
Perhaps most importantly, the conversation highlights that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but rather a powerful step toward breaking generational cycles of trauma. As Blackmon notes, “If you know better and don’t do better, that’s on you.”
Conclusion
This powerful dialogue between Matthews and Blackmon serves as both a call to action and a roadmap for healing in the Black community. It challenges us to rethink our approach to mental health, trauma, and healing while providing practical insights for moving forward.
The conversation reminds us that while the journey to healing may be challenging, it is both necessary and possible. As more voices like Blackmon’s emerge in the mental health field, there is growing hope for breaking cycles of trauma and creating new patterns of healing and wellness in the Black community.
Through education, community support, and professional guidance, we can work toward a future where mental health care is accessible and embraced as an essential part of overall well-being. As Blackmon powerfully states, “We are here to break barriers. We are here to educate, teach the world.”
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At BlackTraumaGPT.com, we aim to foster healing, understanding, and empowerment within Black communities by providing culturally sensitive education, insights, and mental health resources. We aim to deepen the collective awareness of Black trauma’s historical roots and its contemporary manifestations while guiding individuals and communities toward paths of self-care, resilience, and holistic healing. By leveraging the wisdom of Africana phenomenology and the expertise of Black scholars, we support the transformation of trauma into strength, encouraging collective growth and thriving.
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This is life changing. I’ve known Brent to be an exceptional young black man with unlimited potential to reach youth in this world. The first step in knowledge of self and understanding of situations. We serve a God of timing with unmatched principals. This podcast was right on time. Thanks Brent. This is truly a chat to started in Black Culture.