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Clutch Magazine has unearthed a new study, which finds that black men are more likely to suffer from depression as they experience greater economic success. This is shocking news in a society that equates money with happiness. But it seems that not even greater wealth can magically erase the emotional harm caused by the increased exposure to racism that career growth can bring. Clutch writer Leslie Pitterson states on the subject:
The hard times have affected all of us, but the recession has really taken a toll on black men -- even the ones you wouldn't expect.
More prone to be negatively affected by the downswing in the economy, black men are experiencing levels of joblessness not seen since decades past. When the unemployment rate among black men reached 16.7% in 2010, some compared their experience to the great depression.
With more and more African American men losing their jobs, new research from the National Survey of American Life showing poor Black men at high risk for depression does not come as much of a shock. But what is raising many eyebrows is the survey's other notable finding: affluent black men are at higher risk for depression than those on the other end of the income spectrum.
According to the recent survey, black males who earn $80,000 and more were more likely to report symptoms of depression than those who made $17,000 and below. Besides proving that every baller doesn't look as gleeful as Dipset's Jim Jones, the study gives new insights into black men's measurements of wealth and emotional well being.
Darryl Hudson, PhD at the Center on Social Disparities in Health at the University of San Francisco said that the depression in affluent black men could be linked to the stress of "integrated environments" where they are "more likely to be exposed to racial discrimination." However, he cautions that the issue is less abut blame than complexity, saying:
"African-Americans with greater socioeconomic resources are farther away from their social support network, both physically and socially."
Read more about these surprising findings on Clutch Magazine Online.
This type of social isolation is something that blacks of both genders experience as they climb the corporate ladder. Perhaps black women are able to deal with it better, as in general women naturally create support networks and share their feelings. This gives those who are exposed to harsh business climates more of an outlet for disturbed emotions. Hopefully, black men who have been successful will soon learn to create the deeper connections they need independently, and make treating the wounds inflicted through achievement a priority.
Support can be found in numerous black professional organizations, by joining African American alumnae groups, through church and political organizations, and among other black men who are informal peers. Some groups African American men can join include:
-The National Black MBA Association
-National Conference of Black Lawyers
-BDPA (Black Data Processors Association)
-National Society of Black Engineers
-National Society of Black Physicists
-Association of Black Health-System Pharmacists
-National Association of Black Accountants
-The Association of Black Psychologist
-The National Forum for Black Public Administrators
-The National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
In the age of the Internet, if you need social support, there is an easily accessible network that can help you get it. Ubiquitous sites like Facebook make it easy to start your own. The important thing is for our black men to take action and get the support they need, if they don't find the necessary understanding among current friends and family.
This study shows that the time is now for black male professionals to take their emotional lives as seriously as their careers, even if it seems embarrassing. We need our successful black men to remain healthy and find positive ways of unleashing the pent up frustrations that come from navigating a difficult world. The assets, both emotional and financial, that stable black professionals bring to their families and communities are an important key to solving many of our persistent social problems.
But clearly, we see once again that money isn't everything. People and connections matter as much as cash. This reports makes me hope that this is a lesson all communities learn.
Comments: (40)
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By: Al on 3/09/2011 2:37PM
80K is the top of the ladder? no wonder they are depressed.
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By: Gee on 3/09/2011 3:02PM
Dummy, the article says $80K OR MORE!!!! Can't you read?????????
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By: dginki on 3/09/2011 4:59PM
You beat me to it. $80,000 or more? Despite that joke right there, it is very sad that these men experience depression at a higher rate. Depression is no joke and it needs to be treated as soon as detected. But when you write "We need our successful black men to remain healthy". Do you mean "We" as in all of the nonblack women they will marry, have children with or date? LOL!
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By: Greg on 3/09/2011 6:58PM
I personally don't consider 80K as being all that successful. But certainly do, and will give credit to those BM that are making some money. I don't think ...well in my case that successful BM are more stressful in their careers, or their personal lives, no more or less than are non-black men. That just doesn't resonate! I noticed that this article was also written by a BW with the all too familiar tenor that continues to attempt to undercut the accomplishments of BM at every turn. Thus, this article, and it's contents in and of itself in my mind doesn't have any serious creditability whatsoever, if any! This is nothing more sadly than the typical "games" that we continue to see from BW in this site everyday of the week. .
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By: dgety on 3/10/2011 5:49AM
The hard times have affected all of us, but the recession has really taken a toll on black men -- even the ones you wouldn't expect.I am an Air Force and single at present .I need a woman who can love me back ..I also uploaded my hot photos on militaryloves.c om under the name of hoho212..It's the largest and best club for seeking Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Police Force, and the admirers of those who wear the uniform.I just hope you don't mind me being a soldier ...Please Check it out!I'm serious.
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By: Well Maybe... on 3/09/2011 4:29PM
....because many are out there "playing the field" and single, AND IT'S CATCHING UP WITH THEM!!! GET OVER YOURSELVES!!! Get to where you are going and settle down, enjoy life, smell the roses. Enjoy what you do. Maybe have a stable partner to talk things over with, about whats going on with you. Stop being so afraid to share, thinking someone is going to take something away from you. Not everyone wants to take something from you, just because you have "made" it. Many of us have "made" it too. And this article need to STOP with the "poor black man, pity me" syndrome. And how us sisters have a stonger network. YAWN!!! Many brother's bring things among themselves.
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By: truth b told on 3/09/2011 9:34PM
Wow. I should have known that it wouldn't take long for certain black "women" like "Well Maybe" to chime in with an immediate criticism of black men who are successful.
This article doesn't say anything about not having a stable partner to share with or self pity. It just talks about depression, something that happens all over the country, but just so happens to be focused on in this article about successful black men.
It's not enough to put black men down for being thugs, "on the DL," or being hypersexual. When a brother defies those odds, gets an education, makes money and creates a space for himself in this country -- which has always held him to scrutiny, sistah girrl comes out of nowhere to bash him anyway.
Maybe that's the root behind some of the depression. As soon as we accomplish our goals, we've got to come home to a person like you who will tear us down no matter what we do. We get that enough from society in general, but now we have to take it from the ONE PERSON who has been begging for us to straighten out.
A brother really can't win with some of you.
And you wonder why you see some dudes with white, Latina and Asian girls.
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By: well maybe on 3/10/2011 1:17PM
@ truth b told.....I am in no way "tearing down a brother", I am just stating my opinion in trying to figure out where some of this "depression" is coming from and why. But if you want to use my thoughts as an excuse for brothers to chose Asian or Latina women, then so be it. THIS IS JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION. Please don't take it so personal, but then again, if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then its a ......
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By: vdog on 3/10/2011 6:50PM
Well Maybe some of you sistas need to stop trying to TAKE from the GOOD, SUCCESSFUL BROTHAS and BE KIND and GIVING to them the way many of you are to BUMZ who have no ASPIRATION or DRIVE. Then you all will have someone who WANTS TO SETTLE DOWN with you who is SUCCESSFUL. Get TIRED of you ANGRY SISTAS putting BROTHAS down!!!!
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By: Well Maybe on 3/10/2011 7:57PM
@ truth b told and vdog......Thats just why many black men are suffering from depression, by the comments you guys are making. Sheer frustrations. Relax and be....."gentle"men! Nobody said anything about taking from you. I just said sharing, having a positive partner to talk things over with after a hard day, instead of working that 9-5 filled with stress, and playing the field, filled with stress, like so many do.....thats all. and seems to me Vdog you seem to be a lil uptight, by your font....
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