I'm suspecting that depression is a very real mental health issue, currently as widespread as the pandemic, and especially among Black, Brown, and indigenous people of the Western Hemisphere. I could say worldwide, however, our focus this morning will specifically be in the United States of America and throughout the Western Hemisphere. Wherever you find great social unrest, there are 3 actives agents at work depressing the populace, most notably found in both their social behavior (interpersonal relationships) and in their mental and spiritual awareness. In the book written by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan entitled "A Torchlight for America", three social ills are mentioned as three social impediments; 1) RACISM, 2) CLASSISM, 3) SEXISM. We will go further into how these 3 impediments the Minister mentioned are deeply involved in impeding our personal progress regardless of our academic level of education, but for now, let's clearly define depression:
"Depression:: "feelings of severe despondency and dejection" (Oxford)
Depression: "a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep (Oxford)
Depression: "a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and can interfere with your daily functioning" (Mayo Clinic).
Can you identify with any of these definitions of depression?
I'm not trying to make this a Black issue as opposed to Brown and Indigenous, however, if you look objectively at the social order that we live in, you will find that the darker your skin color, the deeper, symptomatically, is the experience of dejection and despondency.
Dejection is what all of the ethnic peoples of the world experience to a degree, where white or light skin are the ruling class. NO, white or light has nothing biologically to do with the degree to which the intellectual potential is greater.
I'm simply pointing out a worldwide social factor that murks the intellectual capacity of darker people everywhere because of this depressing social order, resulting in an experience of racism, classism, and sexism. Classism is based on an observation wherein the social order results in haves and have-nots. The connection between the haves and skin color is most notable in the area of a ruling class, not just politically, but also educationally.
When I was a younger minister practicing in the State of Florida, I was drawn to 3 cities in Palm Beach County to study this order, particularly with academic education. I was alarmed about the rate of incidence of AIDS, specifically among the Black population. The 3 cities were principally Belle Glade, South Bay, and Pahokee. Some of the richest soil is found in that area. Agriculturalists would be very familiar with it, as it is called muck soil. Muck soil is soil that has been turned over and over for a period of time that it becomes so rich and fertile that while working with it, many have experienced a burning sensation on their hands and fingertips. This is an area where many of our Caribbean brothers and sisters have been allowed to work, as well as poor native-born Black people, to the point where, in cities like Belle Glade, Black people are the majority to such a degree that in the public school system, we are often 98% of the student population and White teachers are the only teachers, and agriculture is not even on the curriculum.
Whenever and wherever White people become interested in the wealth discovered in the natural resources of almost any part of the planet, they've exhibited behavior and business attitude that dejects and desponds the darker, native, people that live off that land. They become slave servants or low-paid employees of White business ventures. This produces a strong social demarcation between the haves and have-nots, as well as educated and uneducated. Are you aware of the quality and grade of food sold in so-called ghetto supermarkets compared to the quality of some of the same products found in supermarkets in upper-class neighborhoods?
I'm trying to control how far I go for now on this subject matter, only because I did want to lay a base as a cause of mental depression, which stems from both intra-personal low self-esteem and inter-personal systemic racism, classism, and sexism.
Briefly, for now, sexism is a great factor in female depression and degree of despondence, just on account of being a woman in this world.
In male-dominated social orders, females' intellectual inclusion tends to challenge the immature and underdeveloped male ego resulting in women being rejected from higher positions that she is more than qualified to progress in, so that male-dominance or 'machismo' can thrive.
All of these crippling social factors of creed, class, or color, are the realities experienced when the whole of humanity is experiencing spiritual retardation. When the Scriptures of both Bible and Holy Quran prophesied that ALLAH (GOD) would sit down all 'tyrant rulers' it is because tyrants— whether domestic, governmental, and/or in-commerce—disallow freedom, justice, and equality for the whole or all of the populace, regardless of their creed, their class, or color. NO, there is no real spiritual development ignoring the existence of GOD and there is no resurrection from depression (mentally and spiritually) without finding your true self in ALLAH (GOD) the Creator. In conclusion for now, Belief in GOD—known by many names, but primarily understood as the Supreme Entity above yourself— is the medicine that would counteract any depressive symptoms in the mind, which will eliminate even the idea that 'YOU' are less than anything or anyone else. So, my father's very powerful and medicinal message to the mental disorder of depression can be summed up in 6 words "Accept Your Own, And Be Yourself"! To be continued... 😇