African Self-Consciousness and the Mental Health of African-Americans

Today we hear that conventional forms of mental illness (e.g., neurotic and psychotic reactions, drug addiction and abuse, suicidal behavior, deviant sexual behavior, and emotional stress generally) among African-Americans are approaching alarmingly high rates. Current estimates suggest that 1 out of every 20 to 25 urban Blacks is likely to encounter one of the traditional Western treatment-correctional institutions each year. Beyond these alarming statistics, consider the sociopolitical plight of Black people throughout the world today, amd especially in Africa and America, much of which has psychological implications itself. For example, Blacks are being oppressed by Europeans (and have been for some time) throughout the world. We are almost totally economically dependent on Europeans and our life-support resources