HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!
February. In this month we've celebrated Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, and Black History. That's a lot of activity, energy and love. It's also no coincidence.
For Babushka a new year symbolizes hope, and Valentine's Day of course is love. Black History is the history, both past and present, of the contributions made by blacks to our lives, the world. BB sees it as a perfect combination. We hope to bring enlightenment and love by sharing our histories with each other, and this is the month that the black community can share theirs with us so that we may have a better sense of their story. And we all have our stories.
For Latinos, September starts Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15. These are our days, our past and present will be highlighted for the world to see. Of course these months are used to celebrate the good, educate on accomplishments, and BB's all for that. But Babushka's also about keeping it real.
Pride is fine if it's for betterment, to help our youth strive higher, however Pride is a double-edged sword that's also stabbing our youth. We are losing the future because we're hanging on to the past. The past where being different, not being "strong", was either ridiculed or the person was ignored. The Pride of solitary self-sufficiency and strength, very clear cut rules on what was sane and acceptable, is from another unelightened time, and we MUST leave it behind. Unfortunately this is a common thread between both stories. Fortunately, we have a month for mental health enlightenment and share love for this too.
July is "National Minority Mental Illness Awareness Month." Si, so great is the need that we have a whole month just for this. According to the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health-
" In May 2008, the United States House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, providing agencies with the opportunity to raise awareness about severe mental illness in diverse communities, while highlighting avenues for wellness and recovery."
"Mental illness is a leading cause of disability, yet nearly two-thirds of people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, and racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. are even less likely to get help".
Their website goes on to say, "During National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, help raise awareness in your organization or community. Encourage your family, friends, loved ones and clients to learn more about improving mental health and illness."
And this My Beautifuls is what I'm asking of you. My #StopTheStigma campaign has not stopped, and neither has Babushka. And neither has the climbing rate of suicide among our young. PLEASE, POR FA, help spread the word about this very important month. Any event is welcome and needed. It doesn't even have to be a fundraiser, just a chance to start the conversation going. We need to have these conversations.
Being Black History Month BB will share this post from NAMI's Feibu Page-
This is for February; what do you have in mind for July?
A long time away you say?
JU SO FONII!!!
Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.
highlights various minorities, and is a page worth the "like".
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Always remember- If someone doesn't see YOUR brilliance, just look at them, smile, and say- JU SO FONI!!!