By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
kmcneir@afro.com
As Black males navigate the path from being boys to men, they are confronted with traditional notions of masculinity, reinforced in some Black communities that pressure Black men to appear strong, stoic, and in control, discouraging vulnerability and emotional expression.
Youth are routinely bombarded with phrases like “men don’t cry,” “don’t be a punk,” or “man up,” which corroborate the strong Black man stereotype and make it more difficult for those who face mental health struggles or emotional turmoil to admit they need help.
Now, one organization in D.C., is working to change that.
Led by Black men who have learned that bottling up one’s emotions and yielding to societal stereotypes reduce the ability to successfully overcome systemic racism and economic inequality, the men of Communities Respecting Everyone’s Will To Survive (CREWS) are working to introduce a unique opportunity for transformation.
“With resources and programs either limited or non-existent in many communities here in Washington, D.C., we decided to step forward and develop a Black men’s spiritual healing circle and invited men of all ages to join us,” said Edward Muhammad Tate, founder and executive director of CREWS.
Tate said that while the organization, formed in 2023 and formerly led by community activist Tyrone Parker, initially sought to limit negative interactions among “crews” – the word his group uses in reference to gangs – it soon became apparent that they had just scratched the surface.
“Men like me, Tyrone, and a local leader from the Nation of Islam, Brother Aaron Muhammad, who have all benefited from participating in spiritual healing intervention programs and because of the presence of strong mentors in our lives, knew we had to pass it forward,” said Tate. “We chose June 14, the Saturday before Father’s Day, for our first session and invited Black men of all ages.”
“Just over 20 men, ranging in ages from 12 to 70, gathered in the Highland community in Southeast D.C., many of whom have yet to deal with childhood trauma, and provided a safe space for them to testify, support one another, and release their pain,” he continued.
Tate witnessed more intimate bonds being formed including one between a man in his 60s who had attempted but failed to commit suicide and a young adult who admitted that he was considering ending his life.
“It was a powerful day – a transformative day – and we’re already working to hold more circles in other parts of the city,” Tate said. “We hope this will give birth to a mentoring program that provides essential resources for those who participate, especially youth, so they’ll be able to avoid the temptation of returning to more negative behavior and stay away from those who encourage such actions.”
Asher Boulware, 22, who lives in Prince George’s County, works full time at Walmart, and is saving money so he can return to Morehouse College next spring, attended the healing circle with his father and two older brothers.
“My father told us about the session and asked us to come along and while I didn’t know what to expect, I found it be an eye-opening experience,” he said. “It was a rare opportunity and one that I have never experienced – Black men embracing and supporting other Black men and allowing themselves to be vulnerable without fear of being judged by their peers.”
Boulware admitted that he continues to struggle with meeting the expectations of his family, friends and community since being admitted to Morehouse.
“It’s one of the most prestigious universities in America and it’s an honor to be a student there,” he said. “But the academic and financial requirements are not easy. The healing circle helped me admit how much pressure I feel and I’m better for having shared my emotions in a safe space.”
David Campt, 63, president of The Dialogue Company, LLC, based out of D.C., leads a company that focuses on creating spaces for people to engage in conversations that reveal the potential for collaborations which, while hidden, already exist.
He believes that while western culture and centuries of notions of masculinity have taught men to withhold their emotions and ignore the need to express their feelings, Black communities have also played a role in perpetuating, if not exacerbating, this stereotype.
“As Black men, we’re taught that it’s better to keep our feelings to ourselves and to show that we’re strong and stoic,” he said. “Not only do we feel this pressure from our family and our community at a local level, but because we’ve been emasculated by the White supremacists since the days of slavery, it’s even more difficult and risky for Black men and youth to be honest about our fears, our struggles and our pain.
“For a lot of us, the self-hatred that grows within leads to seething resentment, even hatred, of those who look like us. That’s why I believe spiritual healing circles like the one sponsored by CREWS should be held more frequently and in every corner of D.C.. The benefits are unlimited.”
For more information, visit www.crewscoalition.org.
Great Job D. Kevin McNeir & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
