BlackDoctor.org: Since you posted this hashtag what’s been your biggest surprise about its popularity ?
Dayna Lynn: The biggest surprise has been how willing men have been to share their experiences. It can be so hard for men to speak about their emotional struggles when the language around mental health can be triggering for them. Black men have a fraught history with the mental health care system that ties into The New Jim Crow and aggressive, racially biased policing. Despite all of that, they have made themselves vulnerable. I guess all they needed was the opportunity and space to open up.
BlackDoctor.org: Any plans to continue this conversation elsewhere?
Dayna Lynn: Absolutely. Once we saw how this thing was gaining traction @TheCosby and I began collaborating and brainstorming. We are developing live #YouGoodMan events in our respective locales. He’s out east and I’m in the midwest. I’ll be curating an event alongside Stacy Patrice of Soul Healing Relationships™ on Saturday October 22, 2016 at Mana Contemporary in Chicago, IL. We’ll be bringing the folks out and setting the stage, then passing the baton to the men to get down with the get down on some open, honest and confidential conversation. You can find out more info at http://yougoodmanchicago.eventbrite.com.
@TheCosby works with an organization called Words Beats Life. It’s a hip-hop advocacy and education organization based in DC. He will bring them on board for the event he’ll be curating in DMV. And of course, we’ve got more in store.
BlackDoctor.org: As a Black woman what do you see is the biggest barrier to Black male mental wellness?
Dayna Lynn: I think the biggest barrier to Black male mental and emotional wellness is the social contract that defines how men must relate to and communicate with each other. That’s what #YouGoodMan is meant to deconstruct. It’s saying that you have permission to breach and cancel that contract by answering that question honestly. As Kid Cudi proved, all it takes is one man to be honest. It’s a big barrier, but not insurmountable. #YouGoodMan is proof.
Continue to follow and contribute to this important conversation at #YouGoodMan. To join the men-only #YouGoodMan live event in Chicago on October 22, 2016, click here.