I have an unexplainable love for self-help books.
I’m unsure if it’s because of the excitement of following an author through their most difficult point in their life or how eloquently they seem to make hardship sound. Regardless, I would rather pick up a self-help book than any fictional book to relax. Authors who venture into the self-help world are overly confident that they have found the key that unlocks the secrets to overcoming adversity.
My first introduction into this world was in 7th grade when I picked up 7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens. When I look back on that moment, I understand how ignorant I was of the role race played in these texts. I grew up in the Bronx as a first-generation immigrant from Ghana. Needless to say, I believed wholeheartedly that if I read this book, I could unlock the hidden secrets of an effective teen. Now, as an adult, I know the hidden secrets differ tremendously based on your skin color.
Let me explain.
Most self-help books do not see race.
As a Black woman, I came to understand that the books I was reading did not see me. They did not see my struggle nor my placement in this world. But, how could they? These White authors write for a majority White audience. Their experiences of life are lived through White colored lenses. They preach the gospel of believing that everything you want is available to you.
Not to sound like a pessimist, a Black millennial cannot confidently say that everything in life is available to them.
Most self-help books do not see the effects of systemic oppression.
White authors in self-help books write in a language that erases systemic oppression. Often times, their struggle does not see color. Now, I do not want to sound like I’m erasing any hardships that they have encountered. What I am saying is that the struggle in their life was not handed to them through generations of orchestrated oppression.
With chapter titles such as “How To Get Over Your Bullsh*t Already” and “How You Got This Way,” how can the Black millennial nonchalantly get over years of trauma by just getting over their bullsh*t already? Because to the Black millennial, getting over your bullsh*t requires therapy, self-reflection, tangible resources and opportunity that will help them overcome generational burdens.
The self-help market does not give a chance to Black millennial authors.
Anyone can self-publish a book. Nowadays, the real struggle is finding an agent to publish your book.
But why can’t that person just self-publish their book?
How often do you see a self-published book on the New York Times bestsellers list?
Right…
Personally, I know that I am the audience that self-help books cater to.
I’m constantly trying to figure out how I can better my life through the experiences of others. Contrary to my past therapist who told me I needed to give up these books because they can over complicate life, I think they are a good starting point to anyone who needs motivation in this very difficult world we live in.
However, the market definitely needs to diversify.
Young Black millennials deserve books that acknowledge their struggle while also normalizing and encouraging mediation and therapy. We would all jump at the chance to win a perfect guide on how to conquer life.
I hope you join me on this journey of exploring the self-help world and its impact on the Black millennial’s mental health.
Comments
Loading…