Suicide and African-Americans: A cry for help

Hello Family,

I know it's been a while and you're probably guessing where I've been. Well for all of my four followers, I've been in Law School at SULC and have not had a chance to do anything. Literally. It is a 24/7 job that is very stressful.

With that being said, I wanted to talk about Suicide and it's effects on African-Americans. If you remember from my last post, I planned to discuss this when the time was right in the wake of the late great Don Cornelius. Suicide is not a "White Man's disease." According to the CDC, suicide is third among all leading deaths of African Americans from the ages 15-24. Black-Americans are 30 times more likely to suffer from severe psychological distress as compared to White-Americans.

Anyone who has been inflicted with major depression, and feel like you can't go on, there is help. I wanted to do this topic because I have battled depression and even suicidial thoughts. This was something that I did not want to discuss, but I felt that getting the message was more important than my personal feelings.

What has kept me going is my faith in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I believe in him, our Blessed Mother, and the Holy Ghost. I pray every night for my soul and to ask God to shower me with his love and squash any such thoughts because there is nothing worth losing my life over. Not women, cars, money, etc. So, 50 Cent can get rich or die trying if he wants, but this brother wants to live.

If you or any loved one is suffering from Suicidal Thoughts, dial these numbers:

1-800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) — or the deaf hotline at 800-799-4889.


And Check out these websites:


www.nopcas.com/


http://www.biography.com/people/don-cornelius-273681?page=2


(Source of this information for this blog: BET (No KIdding. I quoted BET #WorldIsEnding) http://www.bet.com/news/health/2012/02/02/suicide-and-black-men.html)
RIP

RIP: Don Cornelius & Whitney Houston

Hey family,

I know I've been missing like Montel Jordan, but I've been busy these past few months. Law school, trying to survive day to day, among other things have been keeping me preoccupied. I told y'all I was going to do a story on blacks and suicide, that has not changed. I'll have it done by Fat Tuesday (NOLA slang for Mardi Gras). It is unfortunate though that I have to talk about blacks and suicide and not focus on a pioneer we lost as a result of it: Mr. Don Cornelius. Don Cornelius, the creator of Soul Train, helped launch the careers of many artists including, Teena Marie, LeVert, The O Jays, The Miracles without Smokey Robinson, and more. Not to mention, rap stars like Snoop Dog, Kurtis Blow and the Fat Boys were able to get on and perform live music, when MTV wouldn't have blacks on their shows. For the first time ever, we had a show that was for us and buy us for all the world to see.

Rumor has it that Cornelius was going to work on a Soul Train movie before this passing. I would have been one of the many that would go see this project, with the hopes it would bring the show back on the air. Personally, I love the Christmas specials Soul Train that would come on that second Saturday Before Christmas. Maybe his sons will take the engine and guide the hippest ride in television.

I would be ashamed of myself if I didn't mention the passing of Ms. Whitney Houston. While she had her faults, no one can deny that she was a ray of talent and beauty, with a voice that would shake your intestines. I'm listening to her sing the National Anthem now. When I hear Whitney sing the National Anthem from Super Bowl 25 on youtube, I hope that bubble I feel in my stomach is just gas and nothing more..(Oh, wait a second..yeah it is). As a comedian, we crack jokes all the time about celebrities. It's part of the job. But there's a time to laugh, and a time to cry. Right now, my heart aches because we lost these two greats. But the legacy that they leave behind, will continue to live on.

RIP DON & WHITNEY: "WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. BUT UNTIL THAT TIME, I WISH YOU LOVE, PEACE AND SOUL!!!!"