Embrace Your Crown: I am not my mental health stigma!
By Wynter Aiken | Published April 15, 2019
The Embracing The Crown’s annual college workshop tour made their pit stop at Kean University’s Miron Student Center Mar. 25, in partnership with the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), to present the “I Am: Power of Words” workshop to promote positive mental health. The Embracing the Crown organization is a movement dedicated to uplifting, empowering, and uniting women of color.
Members of both organizations created a safe space for understanding, healing, and growth while using creative and unconventional tactics to break the stigma and allow students to feel comfortable and welcomed.
Sorority Members/Council Members. Photo Courtesy of Wynter Aiken.
The workshop started with ice-breaking activities from “a quote you live by”, “match your zodiac and spiritual color”, and “ match a favorite color”. The activities allowed everyone to get to know each other and to speak about how words can make people share similarities instead of differences. Simply matching zodiac signs and quotes that gets one through the day. It can help anyone’s mood and hopefully bring one out of the inner shell.
Junior Kiaira Hall was able to form a connection with members of her small group – Senior Breana Kollock and graduate student Bre’Yanie Pearson, all through similarities between meaningful quotes and zodiac signs.
“Just meeting someone with the same things as you, zodiac sign or quote, means that I’m not alone. We all came here tonight to connect with each other, speak about our experiences while at Kean,” said Junior Lauren Johnson. “Being in a room with those that look like me and may share a similar story, it means a lot.”
The workshop continued with a group discussion with the President of NCNW and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Sade Govan-Smith speaking on the subject of how words can hurt people mentally without realization.
“Last year, I attended the Women’s March with friends from campus. There were all kinds of people there and I remember this man who called me the “N” word just because he felt that I shouldn’t be there. It hurt me deeply and stayed with me for a long time.” Govan-Smith said.
The workshop switched to a broader topic, analyzing the way the black culture has incorporated demeaning words and phrases about women or men and how no one realizes that the words being said in a daily conversation between friends can be harmful to someone’s mental wellbeing.
Display. Photo Courtesy of Wynter Aiken.
“As a black woman, people always have this misconception that we’re supposed to be happy or smile. They tell it to our faces how we should be but sometimes we don’t want to.” Embrace Your Crown creator Adéa Asante said. “We’re not always angry or mad. We have our own mental issues and I think it should be acknowledged.”
The NCNW and Embracing the Crown all share the common goal of supporting and uplifting black female and male college students who experience a variety of difficult situations contributing to mental health issues. Coming from all forms of background and different colleges before making a home out of Kean University can be overwhelming, but by sticking together and sharing stories with each other, it can help ease the fear of speaking out.
“Look at the lyrics that today’s rappers use knowing they have a hand in the way our people speak to each other. We don’t know how hurtful we are to someone when we say certain things. We need to be more aware. Words are powerful and they cut deep.” said Junior Taisha Gordons.
With the right resources available designed to assist students of color to adapt to difficult situations, the campus environment can make a positive difference in their adjustment and overall emotional wellbeing. If you know someone that is struggling with mental health, visit https://www.kean.edu/offices/counseling-center/counseling-services
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