This post is inspired by the quote below from Actor Robert De Niro
"When you ban books before you ban guns, you've admitted you're more afraid of children learning than you are of them dying."
In 1998, Hazelden published a workbook, Growing Up Black And Proud , authored by Peter Bell. The books theme is preventing alcohol and drug problems among Black youth by building a positive racial identity. The Native American Wellbriety Movement and First Nation Tribes of Canada have proven that a return to culture can increase recovery rates and prevent substance use disorders from developing for decades. By returning to culture, the Alkali Lake Tribe of British Columbia Canada have gone from 100% alcoholism to 95% recovery and they have maintained a 95% recovery rate for over four decades (Source: The Honour of All Documentary).
At the time of this writing a number of states have banned books in public schools on slavery, historical trauma and the positive impact African Americans have made to American society. The President of the Unites States is defunding behavioral health treatment and prevention initiatives which focus on culturally responsive programming for African American and other communities of color. The African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence closed its doors last month because it was not refunded. In addition, the president has also called for elimination of much of Black History from Smithsonian Museums.
What can the addictions profession do?
Prevention specialists can encourage African American parents to assure that they introduce their children to books, video's etc. which highlight positive contributions African Americans have made worldwide.
For culturally responsive programs which have lost their funding in this current political climate, hold on to the historical information you have created and the research you have done and reintroduce them when the political climate changes. I have learned from Native Americans the therapeutic benefits of returning to culture and how this return can decrease substance use, mental illness and suicide.
Continue to honor individual and family culture in individual and family therapy sessions, even if you feel uncomfortable documenting this in client records, in the current political climate and funding source edicts. Call this, radical ethics! Or as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would call it, "Defying and unjust law."
Continue to provide emotional support to the super-bold. These are the individuals who will continue to publicly do workshops, keynote addresses, webinars and written materials on culturally responsive treatment and prevention for African Americans. Even if their message costs them their livelihood! Our community have always been filled with bold people such as Frederick Douglass, W.E.B Dubois, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Dr. King, Malcolm X, Angela Davis etc.
Vote! As the country begins to shift towards dictatorship, your vote is extremely important to maintain a democracy and to help assure politicians are in place who support culturally responsive programming. Encourage clients to vote as well.
Seek alternative sources of funding of culturally responsive prevention and treatment initiatives outside of federal government funding. One potential source of funding are influential, famous and wealthy African American who are in recovery. Click here for a list.