On May 25th, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was brutally killed in Minneapolis by a White police officer, while three other officers stood by. In the intervening days, hundreds of thousands of people have entered the streets to express their outrage and sorrow, demonstrating against racism and police brutality. Before Floyd’s tragic death, we had scheduled a different topic for today’s ‘About Health.’ But, after his death, we felt strongly it would be important to talk about racism and the impacts it has on the Black community. And, a conversation first aired in January between psychologist Dr. Rheeda Walker and host David B. Feldman seemed particularly relevant to the present moment. It’s an interview about her new book, The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, which just came out in May. The conversation touches on so many issues that are perhaps even more relevant today than they were in January, including—among other topics—the effects of racism on the health and well-being of people in the African American community, the cultural strength of the Black community, and how social action can aid not only in fighting injustice but also in fostering individual emotional well-being.
