UATL Logo
Black Mecca Mental Health

Is the Black mecca ‘10 years behind the rest of the world’ on mental health?

Residents, advocates and policy experts are fighting daily to bring equity to underserved communities.
Philip Robibero/AJC (Philip Robibero/AJC)
By
May 25, 2025

Editor’s Note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the United States is available by calling or texting 988 or 1-800-273-8255. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

Savannah Elahee is sitting at one of her happy places: a picnic table near The Meadow in Piedmont Park.

ohw lwofretaw gnidart ot rieht eht eht neet deltrats klats erohs .renwo fo fo gnikam ylduol nwonk tnioj sti stih ,reh eldoodnedlog eseeg morf gnihcaorcne t’nseod erusaelpsid .noitartnecnoc ynohpocac kaerb syob era yrgna dna dna na a ehT reeM ekaL s’eehalE aralC dniheB

Savannah Elahee, 18, who has mental health struggles, finds peace at Piedmont Park. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Savannah Elahee, 18, who has mental health struggles, finds peace at Piedmont Park. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

edirP“ — — gnitirw gnilevart taht naht gniklat remmus .gnidraobetaks nosaes tnediser ,yrteop doirep htnom evol ekil ssel si si reh reh rof smlif etirovaf deticxe .yawa dna dna tuoba a ehT s’ehS ”,ecidujerP edacsaC dlo-raey-81

ot neht eht eht eht troppus amgits ffats gnidaerps stfihs elor slarrefer no no fo tiforpnon latnem dezilanigram gnikam lacol devlovni ni ,ssenlli woh reh tog rof desucof tnerruc noitasrevnoc .seitinummoc gnitabmoc ssenerawa ta dna a ehT ecneliS ,emahS eehalE

elihw derehtobnu gniklat sniamer reh .yad tsekrad tuoba ehS

I“ ,KO‘ htiw erehw saw deirt ot ot ekat ,peels tniop ’.ecaep .esodrevo deen ym s’tnemom ,ekil efil tsuj ,ainmosni tog .tae desongaid t’ndluoc t’ndluoc lacinilc dna a a oS m’I I I I I I

I“ saw ot ton ”.ereh gnitcepxe eb

saw .emit eht ta eehalE 41

ydoboN“ yhw tahw saw saw .ladicius ehs .dias em ”,gnileef reve reve deksa deksa ydoboN I I

I“ saw neet llits ehs dnoces .nosaer dezilaer em ekil tsuj evag rof leef ”.ecnahc evila a a ehT doG

,sraey htiw ohw etihw ot ot eerht yeht eht eht taht taht yevrus yrots os gnirahs secivres yas evas troper dezingocer deviecer sknar roop tsap ro no fo fo raen erom latnem latnem latnem snaem .sevil ylekil swonk ,seussi si tnednepedni ni reh ,htlaeh htlaeh htlaeh htlaeh morf noitadnuof dnuof rof riaf derapmoc ,erac erac nac mottob sa era na gnoma .stluda stluda stluda ssecca ,yllanoitaN .htnoM latneM yaM ,FFK htlaeH aigroeG eehalE kcalB ssenerawA A %05 %93 3202

srekrow kcart ot er’yeht eht ,srovivrus wols gniees dias ,drocer ssergorp roop rehto s’ti pleh htlaeh ,seitinummoc .bmilc erac tub neeb dna setacovda a etipseD kcalB

raey pu owt ot eht stops troper decalp tuo fo morf morf rof .erac .erofeb ta ssecca s’tahT latneM htlaeH aigroeG aciremA A 05 ht74 4202

htuoy htuoy htuoy tnew pu ot ot eht eht eht eht edicius edicius edicius yduts dega-loohcs esor etar eno fo fo fo rebmun gnidael si hgih rof htaed denoissimmoc sesuac yb yb stpmetta dna gnoma gnoma sega sega a morF lanoissergnoC ,sucuaC kcalB kcalB kcalB neewteB gnidroccA .%37 .%63 ,1202 0202 8102 ,7102 1991 42-01 .91-01

etihw ot eht s’taht naht seiduts .amgits wohs kees yas ,msicar seno fo fo tsurtsim latnem lacidem ylekil ssel yrtsudni lacirotsih htlaeh .erac esuaceb era dna ,stluda strepxE kcalB gnomA snaciremA

htiw nehw erew saw ot ot esoht eht eht eht wohs .stnediser pihsrentrap no fo fo fo fo srebmun dnim gnihcnual s’ti ,evitaitini ni sih htlaeh eh eh rof ytiuqe troffe tnemtimmoc decnuonna na s’noitartsinimda a htuoY raeY emoS ecneliS .emahS traP royaM yraurbeF ’snekciD snekciD atnaltA atnaltA erdnA

,rehtegoT“ krow lliw erehw ew ot ot ot gnivirht .dias secruoser ruo ruo noissim latnem si yhtlaeh htlaeh eh gnirehtruf ,enoyreve erusne eunitnoc ”,seitinummoc ytic dliub era dna elbissecca a atnaltA

ExploreAtlanta club wants Black men to ‘kill their pride’ to save their mental health
Silence the Shame staffers Nick Farthing (from left), Chonniea Bullock, Sonya Jones, Shanti Das, Jewell Gooding and Maegan-Charjoi Pringle at the graduation ceremony for Silence the Shame University. (Courtesy Silence the Shame)

Credit: Courtesy Silence the Shame

Silence the Shame staffers Nick Farthing (from left), Chonniea Bullock, Sonya Jones, Shanti Das, Jewell Gooding and Maegan-Charjoi Pringle at the graduation ceremony for Silence the Shame University. (Courtesy Silence the Shame)

‘10 years behind’?

nehw ot eht eht nettor per elpoep fo ton ti dloh htlaeh rof evitucexe seod rotcerid .seitinummoc semoc roloc erac kcab dnuora dna s’etatS ecneliS emahS hcaeP +QTBGL lleweJ ,suonegidnI gnidooG ,kcalB

aigroeG“ sraey dlrow nehw ot eht eht ehs .dias tser fo latnem ti si ”,htlaeh semoc dniheb 01

saw owt ot eht eht eht etats gniffats ehs ecivres dias gnidivorp ycilop no fo fo latnem si htlaeh sah ,gnidnuf rof .ecneirepxe evitucexe rotcerid sedaced .egnahc dniheb dna etauqeda ecneliS ehS ,emahS roirP latneM htlaeH gnidooG .aigroeG aciremA

ohw hcihw hcihw ot gnikees cilbup gnidivorp gnidivorp etavirp tnenitrep ,stneitap no sdael si si .srerusni ofni laudividni ni ni ni eguh gnitteg spag pag pag rof sllaf atad .egarevoc ,erac htob dna dna dna osla a a a s’erehT erehT

ev’eW“ eW“ ”,gnorw nehw ,yaw ot ot eht eht ehs .dias tser gnizitiroirp fo erehwon raen noitan latnem em gnol ti ”.htlaeh teg t’nod semoc emoc era a

krow ot dnet ycilop ,dedeen erom tsuj ?ti si si woh strepxe tub dab eerga lacoL

I“ uoy dluow erehw tahw ot kniht eht dias etar cilbup ”,ssergorp .margorp ycilop ruo no latnem em ti htlaeh rof rotcerid sdneped yad ta etaicossa ksa sa haraS ,spillihP I s’retneC retraC

nemow hguorht eht gnitegrat snur fo ,htnom dehcnual ylrae .roloc ngiapmac ngiapmac draobllib a ehT latneM .yluJ htlaeH roF retneC retraC ssenerawA

I“ I“ ”.niw ohw erehw ew ew ot kniht kniht er’yeht taht taht taht ehs .dias sseldrager gnizitiroirp ecalp nasitrap fo latnem erutalsigel si ni ”,ytitnedi htlaeh evah sah doog detartsnomed erac era dna ssecca a a a

“I think that we are in a good place where we have a legislature who has demonstrated that they’re prioritizing mental health and access to care regardless of partisan identity,” said Sarah Phillips, associate director of mental health programs at the Carter Center. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

“I think that we are in a good place where we have a legislature who has demonstrated that they’re prioritizing mental health and access to care regardless of partisan identity,” said Sarah Phillips, associate director of mental health programs at the Carter Center. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

ot ot ecnatsbus seriuqer gnicnerefer lacisyhp dessap latnem slevel si ecnarusni ni htlaeh revoc elbarapmoc seinapmoc .erac ta dna esuba spillihP ytiraP latneM tI htlaeH s’aigroeG tcA .2202

skrow htiw eht taht naht etats tuollor .snoisivorp trap ytirap snoitazinagro fo fo fo lanoitan erom srotinom noitilaoc dna a spillihP ytiraP aigroeG ,evitaroballoC 04

tub“ s’tI“ er’ew evaw siht eht eht taht llits detrats revlis ehs gniees dias yllaer ytirap ruo fo fo ton mutnemom ,noitalsigel ti ni ylniatrec ”,tellub aigroeG lareneG ”.ylbmessA

Boots on the ground

yhw hcihw ot yeht .meht eht eht eht eht taht sbat etats .evres cilbup ycilop no no lanoitan srettam ,lacol slevel srekamwal speek ti seussi si gnimrofni lareneg rof rof rotcerid ytuped seitinummoc esolc egnahc ta era dna dna gnitceffa setacovda tuoba ,hctaW rolyaT rolyaT ,spillihP ahsataN ekiL aigroeG

skrow .srekrow nemow htiw devresrednu ot emocrevo nem ni pleh htlaeh htlaeh ytinummoc seitinummoc ylesolc .erac sreirrab dna osla ssecca esehT rolyaT

krow htiw ohw reetnulov ot ot esoht er’yeht meht eht os snur melborp ,tuo snoitazinagro snoitpo netfo ,stiforpnon on deen .tsom .yenom yenom gnikam elttil ti ,si pleh .stnarg dednuf rof od yb dna nehW yehT ehT

Natasha Taylor, deputy director for Georgia Watch, works closely with community health workers. (Steve Schaefer/AJC file)

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Natasha Taylor, deputy director for Georgia Watch, works closely with community health workers. (Steve Schaefer/AJC file)

ruO“ deirrow deirrow srekrow erehw ot yeht yeht rieht rieht eht taht taht ”,evres .dias elpoep no on txen regnol tsil si htlaeh evah gniog .morf ytinummoc emoc tneilc kcehc nac t’nera tuoba tuoba er’yehT rolyaT 001

.llew esoht eht ton tsuj .ytirucesni slaudividni spag laicnanif leef etipsed hcnurc gnigdirb sa snoitazinagrO s’tI

s’nemow s’nemow nemow saw rednu ot tuohguorht lanoitaN-neht eht secivres sees margorp yalp tuo reffo won ortem nem reganam ti ni .reh rof dehsilbatse erofeb dna ,ssenlleW yehT ehT dieR .evitarepmI htlaeH retneC WWBC kcalB kcalB .atnaltA tA lirpA 8891

s’erehT“ ew yrev ”,siht er’yeht .ereht ereht ehs .dias yler .dezicilbup smargorp tuo ,sruo snoitazinagro no ton ton ekil ekil tsuj fi ylivaeh tnarg sdnuf gnidnuf noitadnuof rof hguone sa ,era oS dnA

nemow ohw tuohguorht rieht eht ytireves deneercs .dias sseldrager fo fo lacidem efil ,eussi si otni spleh rof .noisserped ,elcyc semoc ,retnec dieR WWBC enoynA

ot ot thguoht eht etats stfihs ees deen ortem latnem ni ,tnemevorpmi htlaeh .neppah dnuora aera dna roF kcalB atnaltA

,yllarutluC“ ew ot ot ”,hguorht yeht os .secivres .dias eviecer yllaer elpoep ynam edam ekil sreyal tsuj tsuj ti t’nevah teg rof leef nac era elbatpecca erehT dieR

Shanti Das leveraged her network of celebrities, influencers and peers to spread awareness about mental health and suicide. (AJC file photo)

Credit: Lauren Hubbard

Shanti Das leveraged her network of celebrities, influencers and peers to spread awareness about mental health and suicide. (AJC file photo)

‘Open up and talk’

krow eht eht ehs fo cisum cisum thgim tfel wonk ni reh gnidiug rof evitucexe sreerac tub zib ta dna ega ,CLT itnahS tsaktuO skloF saD .83 9002

raey erehw nehw t’nsaw saw saw koot ot eht gniklat edicius ladicius detrats ehs suoires nwo ylnepo .dlo reven ,dedeen dedeen cisum shtnom .efil ,retal wenk tsuj ti ,yrtsudni ni ni .noitaedi reh reh reh ,pleh eh gnivah morf dneirf dnuof dnif sgnileef rehtaf yllaicepse .enod deid tub tseb esuaceb tuoba ehS ehS rebmetpeS nI ’saD saD A 7 ,5102 ,4102

tI“ htiw pu pu eugnot ot eht ”,klat detrats detrats ehs gnirahs .dias dellor gnizilaer ylralucitrap nwo ruo .srehto gninepo nepo ffo ,deen ym ym devil tsuj tsuj ni ecneirepxe ,ytinummoc sa dna dna I I

.drow ot ot eht eht .edicius yrots detrats daerps daerps sreep fo krowten latnem degarevel srecneulfni ni reh htlaeh ,seitirbelec ssenerawa dna dna tuoba ecneliS s’emahS saD 6102

raey eht detrats ehs gnitomorp srehto no ,retal dna ecneliS emahS lanoitaN yaM .yaD A ,5

htuoy llew elbarenluv eht edicius ,amgits ,secruoser gnicuder setar sedivorp ,smargorp hcaertuo s’noitazinagro tiforpnon noissim si .sevitaitini htlaeh rof seitirapsid ytinummoc .seitinummoc sa sa dna dna tluda ehT ecneliS emahS

aiv pu ot ot ot ot rieht rieht eht eht eht eht eht taht sneet selggurts .emas .gnimmargorp sreep rehto s’noitazinagro denepo no ezilamron noissim latnem latnem ni ni woh yllacirotsih htlaeh htlaeh evah egaruocne troffe od ssucsid snoitasrevnoc .ytinummoc egelloc sehcaoc .sesupmac sgnirb dediova stsitra dna dna na lla tuoba htuoY ytisrevinU ecneliS ecneliS s’emahS emahS ekiM relliK ireK s’tI ,nosliH ,amarD JD licnuoC kcalB yrosivdA

s’tI“ ew yrt ot ot ot ereht eht taht taht taht erus etats .dias ”,secruoser secruoser elpoep elpoep ekam level wonk ereh evah morf eerf etacude od ytic gnieb dnuora era era dna elba a saD

ExploreChildhood trauma in Black women can hurt their heart, Emory study finds

‘A safe space’

raey lautriv .deppart secart ot driht sevlesmeht eht eht eht stneduts kcuts ,sgnilbis ,ehs .loohcs cimednap ylno fo fo elddim latnem ,ynam ekil ,gninrael tsal otni ,edisni ssenlli reh werg ,lrig ruof dnuof decrof gnileef .desserped tub ehT eehalE eehalE 91-DIVOC sA

labrev ehs dias lacisyhp decneirepxe .dlihc sa dna esuba a ehS

.skeew deirt ot ,tsigolohcysp tuo tesno fo fo deciton ,mom reh .pleh teg rof t’ndid noisserped s’rethguad deb dna a ehS reH

.keew deirt ot ot reffats os dekaens tnes gninnur baher stnerap nehctik .edisni ,emoh reh reh reh reh morf rof ytilicaf .ekacpuc detarbelec yadhtrib yawa a a a ehS eehalE A ht41

nehw yaw saw .tnemtaert ot ot eht eht dennuts ffats dneps ehs ehs ehs denruter stneitap ,tuo rehto ylno txen shtnom edam .efil ,gnivael retal ni reh reh ruof evif dne syad deppalc eb gnitpmetta sa dna retfa nehW d’ehS

aiv hguorht stsipareht ehs lanoisseforp .krowten s’mom reh dnuof wef delcyc a eehalE

,raey dlot dlot ot eht naht .sraet edicius eromohpos ehs ehs kees .loohcs loohcs loohcs tuo fo erom dessim efil emoh dloh sih reh eh dah .rolesnuoc t’ndluoc kcab ,tpmetta dna ydaerla resivda tuoba a nehW reH eH eehalE %08

gnitirw noisrev ot ot ot emit siht siht detrats esnes was yrteop fo fo wen erom ekam wonk ti .flesreh reh pleh teg dnif sa dna .lla ehS ehS

tI“ I“ dluow dluow saw ot taht taht gnillet ”.yrots gnihtemos ehs .sllacer daer yrteop ym ym ym ym tsuj dah tfig rof ,ylimaf ”,yrc raelc srehtorb emaceb dna a I

dekrow htiw ot ot eht eht eht .stneduts yrots ehs derahs dega-loohcs margorp tnediserp ,tsacdop nalp slenap no fo detaredom elddim ,sgniteem reganam denioj reh s’puorg yratnemele emaceb dna dna dna htuoY ecneliS ehS emahS aeiN .licnuoC yB kcolluB yrosivdA ,61

.emoh .werg dnuof ecnedifnoc a d’ehS reH

sihT“ llA“ siht siht siht eseht rieht eht .ecaps erehwemos dluohs ehs efas thgir .dellacer gniruop ecalp elpoep ,tuo ”.won ekil wonk si si si si woh woh traeh .sleef ”,sleef gniod ,tcennoc nac eb era dna dna a sihT I I I I

In his 30s, Archie Clay III had mental health struggles but turned his life around and started a clothing line that brings awareness to the issue. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

In his 30s, Archie Clay III had mental health struggles but turned his life around and started a clothing line that brings awareness to the issue. (Jason Getz/AJC)

‘It’s OK to be you’

sraey dlrow erehw nehw ot ot eht eht eht taht dessaprus lufsseccus neves neves .eunever ralupop fo evitan enil gnidael wonk ni ni semoh sih sih tah tog og morf dnuof serugif snaf deyojne edistsae .nwod t’ndid gnihsarc ,ynapmoc ynapmoc emac dna ,smirbraeW ehT .harpO .mortsdroN namieN sucraM III eH rutaceD yalC yB atnaltA eihcrA ,3202

— .t’nsaw saw litnu ti doog efiL

a“ ,sdrow erew .pu yeht rieht eht gnilacs thgir ,kaep rentrap no ni elbirroh sih sih ,dah dah tceffe ”ecrovid suortsasid .ssenisub ssenisub ta sa dna a tI yalC

ecruos tes .esoprup ylno ylno fo ton tsol ekil ti ,emocni .ni sih sih eh tlef tub osla oT noisserpeD ,yalC

I“ t’nsaw saw saw saw yrev .das .derebmemer ”,dessip .nam tsuj tsuj .truh yltsenoh eh gniog yreve ;yad gniyrc ,erehwyna I I I

s’tI“ I“ .uoy htiw ”,yaw tnaw dlot dlot ot ot ot ot siht .meht tis .dias thgir ”.won ,flesym rehtom s’ti sih mih eh eh dah leef ,snoitome ecarbme t’nod .did eb eb dnuora ydobyna syawla ,oS KO KO I siH

sraey ohw saw saw deklaw derusninu deirt ot .emit ypareht neht eht eht taht dereffus .kcuts secivres dias ,stnediser dezilaer tuo snoitazinagro no dlo dereffo fo gnihton suovren dedeen .rehtom yromem tsuj .ecnarusni sih sih eh eh eh evah detnuah eerf wef ,rehtaf t’ndid yb tub tub nwodkaerb ta dna dna na ,tluda a a eH yalC yalC yalC sA 3

htiw ot eht klat .emordnys sseccus delggurts yrots laitnessetniuq ekil .rettal rotsopmi eh gniog morf leef gnicaf t’ndid dluoc ylbatrofmoc gnieb osla tuoba a eH eH kcalB atnaltA

atnaltA“ — flesruoy elohw ohw ew saw elbarenluv eurt ot kniht taht taht taht .dias trap fo fo ton evitarran tsuj si tsenoh poh-pih eh sah ,tnemniatretne tnemniatretne ygrene ”,looc gnieb gnieb gnieb .era dna dna a eW doowylloH

A detail of the clothing Brain Love, worn by Archie Clay III. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

A detail of the clothing Brain Love, worn by Archie Clay III. (Jason Getz/AJC)

uoy ,raey ohw yaw ot hguorht eht eht taht taht smets ,dias fo evitarran ,eman .ssenlufdnim yruxul gnivol ,enil dehcnual wenk lanoitnetni aedi :woh sih eh eh morf .noihsaf dediced egnahc tseb gnieb ta era lerappa dna tuoba .keeW ehT ,evoL retaL eH noihsaF yalC niarB atnaltA

.raey htiw lliw .skeew saw owt ot ot eerht eht eht eht eht eht ,remmus ,erots dlos pu-pop tuo rehto yllaiciffo fo ekam snoitacol dedulcni ni ni ni semoh ruof dne slaed noitcelloc yb dnarb eb elbaliava ta ta dna a sihT ,erauqS evoL xoneL niarB s’eladgnimoolB

htiw ot ot eht hcus derentrap snoitazinagro latnem seussi sih pleh htlaeh sah rof .ytinummoc gnirb ssenerawa sa dna gnitceffa yparehT ecneliS emahS slriG yalC kcalB

er’eW“ tahw ew yrev .su ot ot gnillet .dias tnetsisrep elpoep ruo ylno fo elttil gninrael tsuj eh evah evah ,ecarg evig morf ”,tnetsisnoc ytinummoc tib eb era dna dna a eW

Policy, progress and solutions

yaw hguorht eht amgits snoitazinagro latnem ekil si htlaeh .snoitareneg erutuf gnithgif gnitacude era ecneliS emahS enO

aiv gniniart deniart ot ot tuohguorht rieht eht eht ssenerawa-fles .spihsnoitaler .margorp ,stesdnim ortem niatniam nrael woh yhtlaeh sah htworg ecnahne egelloc dna dna srodassabma noitidda htuoY pU ytisrevinU stnedutS ecneliS emahS nI ,licnuoC bmilC atnaltA yrosivdA 65

eht eht margorp sdael rotcerid ecneliS emahS .USTS kciN gnihtraF

tahW“ uoy uoy uoy nihtiw ,su su ot ot ot rieht taht taht gnitrats ,gnihtemos enoemos .dias dessap nwo no fo ezilamron latnem evol nrael dnik tsuj ti si noitamrofni ,ni htlaeh eh steg ,egagne ,esle noitasrevnoc ”,seitinummoc emoc emoc dna tuoba tuoba I

ot eht ,edis .dias ,denimaxeer seitiroirp ycilop deen evitucexe rotcerid eb nO gnidooG

er’eW“ ecrofkrow ew ot stsipareht troppus ”,segatrohs ehs .dias yllaer ecalp erom wal ni evah gnitteg hguone ,tnemecrofne t’nod tub

— — hcihw gnieb-llew saw ot ot eht eht smret stneduts s’ehs ehs ees loohcs dias ,ytefas weiver .ssergorp ycilop gnissap fo fo fo .ton dexim msinahcem noitalsigel s’ti noitcudortni ni htlaeh lamrof rof degaruocne detnioppasid did stnialpmoc seitinummoc gnillac yb gab dna dna dna dna desserdda sserdda a a saerehW s‘hctaW rolyaT BH aigroeG 862

gnikrow htiw eht eht eht nekat pets thgir no ni .noitcerid setic sngiapmac yb sa noitartsinimda noitca a ecneliS emahS spillihP snekciD s’retneC retraC

I“ ohw ot esoht eseht eht ehs gnivres .dias yllaer snoitazinagro snoitazinagro no latnem ni ni evorpmi htlaeh dnuorg stroffe od desab-ytinummoc seitinummoc gnignirb era dualppa dna ”,ssecca royaM ’snekciD

Savannah Elaheesaid she might go to college to become a therapist, For now, though, she's found her calling at Silence the Shame. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Savannah Elaheesaid she might go to college to become a therapist, For now, though, she's found her calling at Silence the Shame. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

‘Hoping to get there’

— ssengnilliw .tiaw ot eht llet llet yrots ehs ehs smees ,dias .ygolohcysp tcefrep netfo ,won s’rehtom netsil ekil ti ni reh sah erutuf .tif ,secneirepxe egelloc nac ,dnuorgkcab dna lla a reH roF skloF eehalE

rieht deklat gnikat nwo tuo fo .sevil sdneirf wef a s’ehS

I“ htiw ot ”.ereht naht s’ehs ecalp ,naem si .reweivretni ni fi gnipoh tsenoh reh teg retteb ,erofeb deksa a nehW m’I eehalE

krow htiw eht trohs deucser deman xim efil peek reh rof hcruhc .ysub ,gnittisybab dna a gniklaW ecneliS emahS .popilloL ,illoL ,illoL eehalE auhauhihC

htiw .ypareht ,tsipareht rieht eht deklat noitseggus derahs detcennocer rehto fo laitram devol si ni sih sih eh rof .rehtaf .seitilanommoc kcab stra dna tuoba yehT ,ekiL ,eehalE yalC tA

krow htiw ot hguorht sees ylreporp fo latnem elttil ,gnivael wenk woh woh sih sih htlaeh snoitareneg rof rehtaf t’nseod .snrecnoc seitinummoc emalb esuaceb sserdda tuoba ,evoL eH yalC niarB kcalB

Archie Clay III is back in therapy and has reconnected with his mentally ill dad who abandoned him. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Archie Clay III is back in therapy and has reconnected with his mentally ill dad who abandoned him. (Jason Getz/AJC)

nevE“ ruoy ot yeht yeht yeht ”,meht eht eht .dias ylbaborp ,tfel noitamrofni fi fi pleh traeh eh evah neve t’ndid ytinummoc ekorb dna dna

stnaw snoitisnart ot taht ehs .ecruoser otni ,egdirb eb ,doohtluda a eehalE sA

gnuoy deirrow krow htiw lliw laicos s’ehs elpoep no ylevitagen erom dnim aidem si ni gnag desucof ,erutluc eb dna .detceffa htiW .STS reH atnaltA

s’tI“ I“ hturt ot ot kniht gniht yeht s’taht secaps ehs erahs .dias ”.elpoep rehto ton ym ;em em em edam tsuj ”,ti ti depleh rof rof rof dessarrabme etaerc gib eb dna tuoba a KO

SIHT SEIRES TUOBA

:atnaltA“ htiw lliw ohw seciov stnalpsnart hguorht lufthguoht siht eht eht taht taht taht seirots seires gnitroper noitseuq sezitiroirp ,repap lanigiro fo htnom slacol si ni .emoh morf serolpxe hcae ,nevird-atad tnetnoc ytic llac raeppa dna dna na moc.LTAU LTAU esehT ”?acceM yraunaJ kcalB s’aciremA moc.CJA .6202

ruoy tnaw su pu .moc.cja@ltau ot ot ?llet yrots raeh .secneirepxe ta tuoba a eW acceM tiH toG kcalB

siht seirots ruo rehto fo rettelswen erom pihsrebmem rebmem ekil ni eerf rof .stifeneb dna a LTAU emoceB

no no dna ,X LTAU koTkiT .margatsnI wolloF ,koobecaF

About the Author

Gavin Godfrey is a senior reporter for the AJC who covers Black culture, entertainment, and diversity. He's an award-winning writer and editor from Atlanta who's covered everything from OutKast to the water boys. Before joining the AJC, Gavin worked for Capital B Atlanta, CNN, and Creative Loafing.