When Men Cry.
The Hidden Cost of Emotional Silence!
“Men cry. Men struggle” but saying it and living it are two very different things, especially for Black men.
For generations, masculinity has been policed by silence. Men are taught that tears are weakness, breakdowns are failure and vulnerability is something to be feared. Yet the research tells another story.
According to a CDC report, suicide rates among Black men aged 15–24 increased by 47% between 2013 and 2019. And Dr. Wizdom Powell, a leading health disparities researcher and clinical psychologist, warns that “emotional stoicism among Black men is literally killing us.”
The cultural scripts handed down, be strong, man up, don't show weakness, are not just outdated, they're dangerous. Scholar Dr. Alvin Poussaint, one of the leading voices in Black mental health, emphasised that the psychological stress caused by racism, economic struggle and societal expectations makes the mental health needs of Black men urgent and unique.
Yet despite this, Black men are half as likely to seek mental health treatment compared to their white counterparts. Why? Because society still labels emotional pain in men as a defect, not a human experience.
This image isn’t just a list of facts, it’s a mirror. One that reflects what too many of us carry in silence. It’s a reminder that behind every stoic face is a storm we rarely give ourselves permission to feel.
"You don’t overcome challenges by making them smaller but by making yourself bigger" - John Maxwell
Becoming bigger means developing emotional intelligence, having the courage to cry and learning to lead with empathy.
In these small, quiet disruptions of the norm, like allowing ourselves to cry, that revolutions begin.
Emotional Strength Exercise
Take 10 minutes today to write down three emotions you’ve felt this week, good or bad.
Beside each one, write what triggered it and how you responded.
Then ask yourself this “If I had allowed myself to sit in that emotion longer, what would it have taught me?”
This isn’t therapy. It’s emotional training and if we want to lead our families, communities and businesses differently, we have to train differently.
Answer the Call to Heal and Lead
Brothas, the time has come to normalise the full range of our humanity.
Talk to your brother. Check on your uncle. Cry when you need to. Lead with your whole heart. Being a man doesn’t mean being emotionless, it means having the strength to face the truth of what you feel and lead anyway.
Let’s dismantle the myth that struggle makes us weak. The truth? Struggle makes us human and facing it together makes us unstoppable.
If this post spoke to you, share it with a brother who needs the reminder. Drop a comment and let us know how you're managing your emotions this week. Let's build a community that heals, not hides.
Like this post to show that you're ready to lead from the inside out, because Brothas struggle too and Brothas rise together.
