Healing Through Heritage: A Therapist's Perspective on Black Heritage

Words by: Daniel Harris, Black Minds Matter UK Therapist

Edited by: Black Minds Matter UK Team

Can you imagine travelling to a new destination without any form of navigation, no phone, no Google or Apple Maps?

Would you feel comfortable taking the journey? Would you feel safe taking the journey?? Would you feel confident that you would reach your destination?

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I personally know that a lack of information and direction would leave me lost and confused before I even embarked on my journey. Now imagine a race of people who have lived for hundreds of years with little to no understanding of their culture or heritage and the implications that this would have on their mental health.?

Cultural Disconnection: The Impact on Mental Health

In an article by Sinai Fleary of the Voice Online, the profound connection between heritage and mental well-being is underscored. Drawing from UNESCO's 2021 UK National Commission, Fleary articulates how knowledge of one's cultural background serves as a bedrock for a positive self-concept, fostering social support, solidarity, and resilience.

The words of the venerable Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey resonate deeply in this context:"a people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture are like a tree without roots." Indeed, Black history is a tapestry woven with beauty, resilience, and triumphs—an inheritance that deserves celebration and reverence, day in and day out.

Personal Journey: Nurturing Cultural Heritage

As a first-generation British Black man raised by Jamaican parents, I've been fortunate to have my cultural heritage woven into the fabric of my upbringing. From the pulsating rhythms of Roots Reggae to the tantalising flavours of Jamaican cuisine, my childhood was imbued with a rich tapestry of African heritage. Despite the challenges and oppressions I've faced along the way, my roots have anchored me, shaping the person I am today.

But not every Black individual has been afforded the same opportunity to cultivate and embrace their cultural identity. Many have been deprived of this fundamental connection, leaving them adrift in a sea of uncertainty and longing.

Looking Ahead: Strategies for Embracing Cultural Heritage

So, as we reflect on the profound impact of cultural heritage on mental health, we're compelled to confront a pressing question: How do we embrace such beauty when the roadmap to our culture was erased, edited, and stained?

Make sure to tune in next week Wednesday as Daniel shares his tips on understanding our culture, heritage and embracing our unique beauty!

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